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 And, in the innocent insolence of our hearts, we had planned such a merry one.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And, in the innocent insolence of our hearts, we had planned such a merry one.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
Barbara's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
charming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
china
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From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
Christmas
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From this reading Its shadow has fallen on every Christmas since then.
Christmastide
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From this reading Never shall I forget that Christmastide.
courtly
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From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
days
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From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
dutiful
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From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
Edward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Its shadow has fallen on every Christmas since then.
fallen
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From this reading Its shadow has fallen on every Christmas since then.
father
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From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
faultless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
festival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
folk
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From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
forget
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never shall I forget that Christmastide.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
Government
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And, in the innocent insolence of our hearts, we had planned such a merry one.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Its shadow has fallen on every Christmas since then.
hearts
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From this reading And, in the innocent insolence of our hearts, we had planned such a merry one.
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
hitherto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Never shall I forget that Christmastide.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And, in the innocent insolence of our hearts, we had planned such a merry one.
innocent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, in the innocent insolence of our hearts, we had planned such a merry one.
insolence
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From this reading And, in the innocent insolence of our hearts, we had planned such a merry one.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
ItsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its shadow has fallen on every Christmas since then.
Kennion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
Lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
marriage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
merry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, in the innocent insolence of our hearts, we had planned such a merry one.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
NevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Never shall I forget that Christmastide.
Northlands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And, in the innocent insolence of our hearts, we had planned such a merry one.
Office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Its shadow has fallen on every Christmas since then.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And, in the innocent insolence of our hearts, we had planned such a merry one.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading And, in the innocent insolence of our hearts, we had planned such a merry one.
parents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
Permanent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
planned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, in the innocent insolence of our hearts, we had planned such a merry one.
retiredverbUS /rɪˈtaɪərd/
went away to a private place
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
Secretary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Its shadow has fallen on every Christmas since then.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading Never shall I forget that Christmastide.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Its shadow has fallen on every Christmas since then.
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
solid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
spendingnounUS /ˈspending/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading And, in the innocent insolence of our hearts, we had planned such a merry one.
tasteverbUS /teɪst/
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Never shall I forget that Christmastide.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And, in the innocent insolence of our hearts, we had planned such a merry one.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its shadow has fallen on every Christmas since then.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading And, in the innocent insolence of our hearts, we had planned such a merry one.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was the first since our marriage that we were spending at Northlands, for like dutiful folk we had hitherto spent the two or three festival days in the solid London house of Barbara's parents.
wine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
worthyadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːr.ði/
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading Her father, Sir Edward Kennion, retired Permanent Secretary of a Government Office, was a courtly gentleman with a faultless taste in old china and wine, and Lady Kennion a charming old lady almost worthy of being the mother of Barbara.
