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 It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
absolute
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From this reading The absolute necessity of playing out her execrable part with all suitable and consistent hypocrisy, braced her into iron.
all
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From this reading The absolute necessity of playing out her execrable part with all suitable and consistent hypocrisy, braced her into iron.
almost
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From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
Ardworth
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From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
assumed
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From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A chaise stopped at the porch; two gentlemen descended.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
became
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From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
braced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The absolute necessity of playing out her execrable part with all suitable and consistent hypocrisy, braced her into iron.
brain
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From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
card
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
chaise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A chaise stopped at the porch; two gentlemen descended.
consciousness
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From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
consistent
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From this reading The absolute necessity of playing out her execrable part with all suitable and consistent hypocrisy, braced her into iron.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
cracking
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From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
Dalibard
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From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
danger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
descendednounUS /ˈdescended/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A chaise stopped at the porch; two gentlemen descended.
disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
dreary
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From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
earlier
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From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
effort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
elder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
execrable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The absolute necessity of playing out her execrable part with all suitable and consistent hypocrisy, braced her into iron.
faculties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
fibre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
gained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
gentlemennounUS /gentlemen/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A chaise stopped at the porch; two gentlemen descended.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
hypocrisy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The absolute necessity of playing out her execrable part with all suitable and consistent hypocrisy, braced her into iron.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
imminent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
inscribed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The absolute necessity of playing out her execrable part with all suitable and consistent hypocrisy, braced her into iron.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The absolute necessity of playing out her execrable part with all suitable and consistent hypocrisy, braced her into iron.
irresolutely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
Lucretia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
necessity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The absolute necessity of playing out her execrable part with all suitable and consistent hypocrisy, braced her into iron.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
object
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The absolute necessity of playing out her execrable part with all suitable and consistent hypocrisy, braced her into iron.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The absolute necessity of playing out her execrable part with all suitable and consistent hypocrisy, braced her into iron.
paused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
playing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The absolute necessity of playing out her execrable part with all suitable and consistent hypocrisy, braced her into iron.
porch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A chaise stopped at the porch; two gentlemen descended.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
restore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
served
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
spoken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
steeped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
stoppednounUS /stopped/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A chaise stopped at the porch; two gentlemen descended.
stretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
stupor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
suitable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The absolute necessity of playing out her execrable part with all suitable and consistent hypocrisy, braced her into iron.
supernatural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A chaise stopped at the porch; two gentlemen descended.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
Walter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the disguise she assumed was a supernatural effort, it stretched to cracking every fibre of the brain; it seemed almost to herself as if, her object once gained, either life or consciousness could hold out no more.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It seemed as if now, when danger became most imminent and present, that that very danger served to restore to Lucretia Dalibard her faculties, which during the earlier day had been steeped in a kind of dreary stupor.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The absolute necessity of playing out her execrable part with all suitable and consistent hypocrisy, braced her into iron.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The elder paused irresolutely, and at length, taking out a card, inscribed “Mr. Walter Ardworth,” said, “If Madame Dalibard can be spoken to for a moment, will you give her this card?”
