Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The winter and spring passed calmly by.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The winter and spring passed calmly by.
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
calls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
calmly
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From this reading The winter and spring passed calmly by.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
chair
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From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
cheerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
Christian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
constantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
creatures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
degrees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
especially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
exactly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
gentle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
girlhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
Halifax
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
ill-health
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
illness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
instinctively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
latter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
listen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
longingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
married
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
meek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
meekest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
names
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The winter and spring passed calmly by.
pleasantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
ruled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
single
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
sisterly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
slow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter and spring passed calmly by.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
taught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
tenderest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The winter and spring passed calmly by.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
truly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
Ursula
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had much ill-health, and could go out very little; but they came constantly to me, John and Ursula, especially the latter.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
watch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading During this illness, when I learned to watch longingly for her kind face, and listen for her cheerful voice talking pleasantly and sisterly beside my chair, she taught me to give up "Mrs. Halifax," and call her Ursula.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was only by slow degrees I did so, truly; for she was not one of those gentle creatures whom, married or single, one calls instinctively by their Christian names.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter and spring passed calmly by.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manner in girlhood was not exactly either "meek" or "gentle"; except towards him, the only one who ever ruled her, and to whom she was, through life, the meekest and tenderest of women.
