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 Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
accepting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading On the afternoon of the day which intervened between the Maxwells' call and her introduction to the Court, Marcella walked as usual down to the village.
amused
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From this reading It amused her, in submitting to them, to remember the free and easy ways of her London life.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It amused her, in submitting to them, to remember the free and easy ways of her London life.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
back
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From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading On the afternoon of the day which intervened between the Maxwells' call and her introduction to the Court, Marcella walked as usual down to the village.
Boyce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she submitted--and not unwillingly.
call
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From this reading On the afternoon of the day which intervened between the Maxwells' call and her introduction to the Court, Marcella walked as usual down to the village.
carriage
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From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
civil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
cold
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From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
containing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
conventions
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From this reading Marcella found her mother inclined to insist punctiliously on conventions of this kind.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
Court
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the afternoon of the day which intervened between the Maxwells' call and her introduction to the Court, Marcella walked as usual down to the village.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the afternoon of the day which intervened between the Maxwells' call and her introduction to the Court, Marcella walked as usual down to the village.
easy
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From this reading It amused her, in submitting to them, to remember the free and easy ways of her London life.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
escort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
excuses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Marcella found her mother inclined to insist punctiliously on conventions of this kind.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading It amused her, in submitting to them, to remember the free and easy ways of her London life.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
inclined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcella found her mother inclined to insist punctiliously on conventions of this kind.
insist
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From this reading Marcella found her mother inclined to insist punctiliously on conventions of this kind.
intervened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the afternoon of the day which intervened between the Maxwells' call and her introduction to the Court, Marcella walked as usual down to the village.
introduction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the afternoon of the day which intervened between the Maxwells' call and her introduction to the Court, Marcella walked as usual down to the village.
invitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It amused her, in submitting to them, to remember the free and easy ways of her London life.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcella found her mother inclined to insist punctiliously on conventions of this kind.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It amused her, in submitting to them, to remember the free and easy ways of her London life.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It amused her, in submitting to them, to remember the free and easy ways of her London life.
maid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
Marcella
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
Maxwells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the afternoon of the day which intervened between the Maxwells' call and her introduction to the Court, Marcella walked as usual down to the village.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcella found her mother inclined to insist punctiliously on conventions of this kind.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But she submitted--and not unwillingly.
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Marcella found her mother inclined to insist punctiliously on conventions of this kind.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
punctiliously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcella found her mother inclined to insist punctiliously on conventions of this kind.
Raeburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading It amused her, in submitting to them, to remember the free and easy ways of her London life.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But she submitted--and not unwillingly.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
submitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she submitted--and not unwillingly.
submitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It amused her, in submitting to them, to remember the free and easy ways of her London life.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It amused her, in submitting to them, to remember the free and easy ways of her London life.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Marcella found her mother inclined to insist punctiliously on conventions of this kind.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
unwillingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she submitted--and not unwillingly.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the afternoon of the day which intervened between the Maxwells' call and her introduction to the Court, Marcella walked as usual down to the village.
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the afternoon of the day which intervened between the Maxwells' call and her introduction to the Court, Marcella walked as usual down to the village.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the afternoon of the day which intervened between the Maxwells' call and her introduction to the Court, Marcella walked as usual down to the village.
ways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It amused her, in submitting to them, to remember the free and easy ways of her London life.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On the afternoon of the day which intervened between the Maxwells' call and her introduction to the Court, Marcella walked as usual down to the village.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Boyce wrote her note to Miss Raeburn, a note containing cold though civil excuses as to herself, while accepting the invitation for Marcella, who should be sent to the Court, either in the carriage or under the escort of a maid who could bring her back.
