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 The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
abbe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
arriving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
attentive
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From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
autumn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
belong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
brothers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
care
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
castle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
chevalier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
circle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
collect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
completely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
conduct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
consequence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
designs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
desire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
dulness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The marquise thus endured less dulness than she had at first feared.
DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
endured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The marquise thus endured less dulness than she had at first feared.
feared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The marquise thus endured less dulness than she had at first feared.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
first-sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
Ganges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
graciousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
honour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
inspired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
kindly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The marquise thus endured less dulness than she had at first feared.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
marquise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The marquise thus endured less dulness than she had at first feared.
marquise's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
obliged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
original
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
precaution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
rank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
respectful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
resumednounUS /ˈresumed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The marquise thus endured less dulness than she had at first feared.
society
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
spend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
spendingnounUS /ˈspending/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The marquise thus endured less dulness than she had at first feared.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The marquise thus endured less dulness than she had at first feared.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The marquise's first care, on arriving at the castle, had been to collect a little society for herself in the town.
uncalled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was easy: not only did her rank make it an honour to belong to her circle, her kindly graciousness also inspired at first-sight the desire of having her for a friend.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the whole of this time the abbe and the chevalier seemed to have completely forgotten their original designs upon her, and had again resumed the conduct of respectful, attentive brothers.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This precaution was by no means uncalled for; instead of spending only the autumn at Ganges, the marquise was obliged, in consequence of letters from her husband, to spend the winter there.
