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 been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
account
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
acts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.”
admittance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
agitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
angels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.”
anxiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.”
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
begin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
behavior
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.”
considerable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
discovery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
dressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
expectingverbUS /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/
thinking that somebody or something will arrive
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
extraordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
fatal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.”
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
gain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
gazing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.”
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
Helen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
Helen's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
ill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
interruptednounUS /ˈinterrupted/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
knock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
Naturally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
niece's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.”
OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.”
prostrated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/
a feeling of comfort after worry or pain
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
Roberts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.”
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.”
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
surprisednounUS /surprised/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She had been expecting to find the girl more prostrated than ever, and so the discovery was a great relief to her; she stood gazing at her anxiously.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.”
walk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Naturally there was considerable agitation in the Roberts family on account of Helen's strange behavior; early the next morning Mrs. Roberts was at her niece's door, trying to gain admittance.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and dressing.
wish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Helen, dear,” she said, “I scarcely know how to begin to talk to you about your extraordinary--” “I wish,” interrupted Helen, “that you would not begin to talk to me about it at all.”
