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 ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
Brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You did not help me to squander my money, Mrs. Brown.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had no money to squander; but I fear what you mean is that you have come down in the world.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading ‘You did not help me to squander my money, Mrs. Brown.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no money to squander; but I fear what you mean is that you have come down in the world.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no money to squander; but I fear what you mean is that you have come down in the world.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
guests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was only one of the guests.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
happen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I had no money to squander; but I fear what you mean is that you have come down in the world.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘You did not help me to squander my money, Mrs. Brown.
helping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I had no money to squander; but I fear what you mean is that you have come down in the world.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
mean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no money to squander; but I fear what you mean is that you have come down in the world.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You did not help me to squander my money, Mrs. Brown.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
nieces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I was only one of the guests.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I was only one of the guests.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
Oxford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
Plowden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
Rector
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
schoolmistress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
squander
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
Things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
Well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I had no money to squander; but I fear what you mean is that you have come down in the world.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no money to squander; but I fear what you mean is that you have come down in the world.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’
yes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘Well, yes, my nieces if you like; and I was not at all like a village schoolmistress, was I?
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Things happen so in this life; but it would do me no good, Mr. Plowden, with the Rector or the other good people, to know that I had been--well, helping you to squander your money at Oxford only last year.’