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 Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
absence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They did not know if they might not be lectured again.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They did not know if they might not be lectured again.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
Brief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
capable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This vulgar man, of what might he not be capable?
carriages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
change
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
company
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They did not know if they might not be lectured again.
displeased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
evidently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They felt they had been lectured, and they were more put out than Richard himself.
fixed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
gathered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
groups
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading They felt they had been lectured, and they were more put out than Richard himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
host
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading They did not know if they might not be lectured again.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
instinctively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
interval
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
knots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They did not know if they might not be lectured again.
lectured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They felt they had been lectured, and they were more put out than Richard himself.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This vulgar man, of what might he not be capable?
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading They did not know if they might not be lectured again.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They felt they had been lectured, and they were more put out than Richard himself.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
notable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
ordered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They felt they had been lectured, and they were more put out than Richard himself.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
preparing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They felt they had been lectured, and they were more put out than Richard himself.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They felt they had been lectured, and they were more put out than Richard himself.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
spirit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
sullen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They felt they had been lectured, and they were more put out than Richard himself.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Brief as had been his absence, the host could see that, in the interval, a great and notable change had come over the spirit of his company.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They felt they had been lectured, and they were more put out than Richard himself.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This vulgar man, of what might he not be capable?
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
vulgar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This vulgar man, of what might he not be capable?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading This vulgar man, of what might he not be capable?
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Some of those who lived in the town were evidently preparing to return home on foot; those who lived at a distance, and whose carriages (having been sent away, and ordered to return at a fixed hour) had not yet arrived, were gathered together in small knots and groups; all looked sullen and displeased, and all instinctively turned from their host as he passed them by.
