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 Scarcely a word was exchanged between Marcella and her mother on the drive home.
acquaintances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several old acquaintances who had seen her at Mellor as a young wife in her first married years had come up with some trepidation to speak to her.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Scarcely a word was exchanged between Marcella and her mother on the drive home.
arm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Several old acquaintances who had seen her at Mellor as a young wife in her first married years had come up with some trepidation to speak to her.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Several old acquaintances who had seen her at Mellor as a young wife in her first married years had come up with some trepidation to speak to her.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Scarcely a word was exchanged between Marcella and her mother on the drive home.
Boyce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, Mrs. Boyce had gone through it very quietly.
Boyce's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
circumstances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Several old acquaintances who had seen her at Mellor as a young wife in her first married years had come up with some trepidation to speak to her.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
drive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Scarcely a word was exchanged between Marcella and her mother on the drive home.
effort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
enjoying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
entry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
exchangednounUS /ˈexchanged/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Scarcely a word was exchanged between Marcella and her mother on the drive home.
exercise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, Mrs. Boyce had gone through it very quietly.
festivity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, Mrs. Boyce had gone through it very quietly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Scarcely a word was exchanged between Marcella and her mother on the drive home.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Scarcely a word was exchanged between Marcella and her mother on the drive home.
humours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
imagination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In fact, Mrs. Boyce had gone through it very quietly.
keen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
Lord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
Marcella
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Scarcely a word was exchanged between Marcella and her mother on the drive home.
Marcella's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
married
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several old acquaintances who had seen her at Mellor as a young wife in her first married years had come up with some trepidation to speak to her.
Maxwell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
Mellor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several old acquaintances who had seen her at Mellor as a young wife in her first married years had come up with some trepidation to speak to her.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Scarcely a word was exchanged between Marcella and her mother on the drive home.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, Mrs. Boyce had gone through it very quietly.
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several old acquaintances who had seen her at Mellor as a young wife in her first married years had come up with some trepidation to speak to her.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Scarcely a word was exchanged between Marcella and her mother on the drive home.
ordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
painful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
public
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
quietly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, Mrs. Boyce had gone through it very quietly.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
Scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Scarcely a word was exchanged between Marcella and her mother on the drive home.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several old acquaintances who had seen her at Mellor as a young wife in her first married years had come up with some trepidation to speak to her.
Several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several old acquaintances who had seen her at Mellor as a young wife in her first married years had come up with some trepidation to speak to her.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
sixteen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
social
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several old acquaintances who had seen her at Mellor as a young wife in her first married years had come up with some trepidation to speak to her.
spirit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After her first public entry on Lord Maxwell's arm she had sat in her corner, taking keen note of everything, enjoying probably the humours of her kind.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Scarcely a word was exchanged between Marcella and her mother on the drive home.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading In fact, Mrs. Boyce had gone through it very quietly.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
trepidation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several old acquaintances who had seen her at Mellor as a young wife in her first married years had come up with some trepidation to speak to her.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several old acquaintances who had seen her at Mellor as a young wife in her first married years had come up with some trepidation to speak to her.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, Mrs. Boyce had gone through it very quietly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Scarcely a word was exchanged between Marcella and her mother on the drive home.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Several old acquaintances who had seen her at Mellor as a young wife in her first married years had come up with some trepidation to speak to her.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Several old acquaintances who had seen her at Mellor as a young wife in her first married years had come up with some trepidation to speak to her.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Scarcely a word was exchanged between Marcella and her mother on the drive home.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet under ordinary circumstances Marcella's imagination would have found some painful exercise in the effort to find out in what spirit her mother had taken the evening--the first social festivity in which Richard Boyce's wife had taken part for sixteen years.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several old acquaintances who had seen her at Mellor as a young wife in her first married years had come up with some trepidation to speak to her.
