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 had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
add
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From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
admitted
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From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
always
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From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
ambition
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From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were varied designs of little dogs with bead eyes, baskets of flowers, wreaths, and birds on sprays.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
baskets
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From this reading There were varied designs of little dogs with bead eyes, baskets of flowers, wreaths, and birds on sprays.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
bead
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From this reading There were varied designs of little dogs with bead eyes, baskets of flowers, wreaths, and birds on sprays.
begun
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From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
birds
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From this reading There were varied designs of little dogs with bead eyes, baskets of flowers, wreaths, and birds on sprays.
chairs
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From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
cloth
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From this reading Lucina in those days was occupied with some pieces of embroidery in gay wools on cloth.
condition
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From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
day
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From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
days
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From this reading Lucina in those days was occupied with some pieces of embroidery in gay wools on cloth.
designs
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From this reading There were varied designs of little dogs with bead eyes, baskets of flowers, wreaths, and birds on sprays.
dim
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From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
dogs
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From this reading There were varied designs of little dogs with bead eyes, baskets of flowers, wreaths, and birds on sprays.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
door
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From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
embroider
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From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
embroidery
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From this reading Lucina in those days was occupied with some pieces of embroidery in gay wools on cloth.
eyes
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From this reading There were varied designs of little dogs with bead eyes, baskets of flowers, wreaths, and birds on sprays.
fancy
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From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
father's
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From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
flowers
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From this reading There were varied designs of little dogs with bead eyes, baskets of flowers, wreaths, and birds on sprays.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
furnished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
future
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From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
gay
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From this reading Lucina in those days was occupied with some pieces of embroidery in gay wools on cloth.
granted
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From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
herspronounUS /hərz/
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
house
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From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lucina in those days was occupied with some pieces of embroidery in gay wools on cloth.
innocently
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From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
ladies
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From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were varied designs of little dogs with bead eyes, baskets of flowers, wreaths, and birds on sprays.
Lucina
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From this reading Lucina in those days was occupied with some pieces of embroidery in gay wools on cloth.
maidennoun, literaryUS /ˈmeɪdən/
a young woman who is not married
From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
married
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From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
occupied
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From this reading Lucina in those days was occupied with some pieces of embroidery in gay wools on cloth.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lucina in those days was occupied with some pieces of embroidery in gay wools on cloth.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Lucina in those days was occupied with some pieces of embroidery in gay wools on cloth.
own
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From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
an old-fashioned sitting room
From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
parlor-chairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
pieces
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From this reading Lucina in those days was occupied with some pieces of embroidery in gay wools on cloth.
presence
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From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
shadowy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
some
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From this reading Lucina in those days was occupied with some pieces of embroidery in gay wools on cloth.
sprays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were varied designs of little dogs with bead eyes, baskets of flowers, wreaths, and birds on sprays.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
stately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
substancenounUS /ˈsʌbstəns/
wealth or financial means
From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
suggestion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were varied designs of little dogs with bead eyes, baskets of flowers, wreaths, and birds on sprays.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Lucina in those days was occupied with some pieces of embroidery in gay wools on cloth.
timid
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From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
varied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were varied designs of little dogs with bead eyes, baskets of flowers, wreaths, and birds on sprays.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucina had always innocently taken it for granted that she should some day be married and have a house of her own, and very near her father's.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lucina in those days was occupied with some pieces of embroidery in gay wools on cloth.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were varied designs of little dogs with bead eyes, baskets of flowers, wreaths, and birds on sprays.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When she had begun the embroidery she had furnished a shadowy little parlor of a shadowy house with the fine chairs, and admitted at the parlor door a dim and stately presence, so shadowy to her timid maiden fancy that there was scarcely a suggestion of substance.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lucina in those days was occupied with some pieces of embroidery in gay wools on cloth.
wools
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucina in those days was occupied with some pieces of embroidery in gay wools on cloth.
wreaths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were varied designs of little dogs with bead eyes, baskets of flowers, wreaths, and birds on sprays.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had an ambition to embroider a whole set of parlor-chairs, as some young ladies in her school had done, and there was in her mind a dim and scarcely admitted fancy that these same chairs might add state to some future condition of hers.
