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 subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
all
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From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
almost
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From this reading It was a curious coincidence which thus revived in their memories a name now almost forgotten.
always
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From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
amusement
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From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
brother
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From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
carefully
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From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
character
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From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
coincidence
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From this reading It was a curious coincidence which thus revived in their memories a name now almost forgotten.
completenounUS /complete/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
connected
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From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
conversation
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From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
curiosity
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From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
curious
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From this reading It was a curious coincidence which thus revived in their memories a name now almost forgotten.
debt
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From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
devoted
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From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
drawn
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From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
examine
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From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
fact
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From this reading “How strange that he should have been so near us, and we not know the fact!
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading It was a curious coincidence which thus revived in their memories a name now almost forgotten.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
full
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From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
Gwynne
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From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
half-hour's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
hand-writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
Harold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “How strange that he should have been so near us, and we not know the fact!
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “How strange that he should have been so near us, and we not know the fact!
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
herspronounUS /hərz/
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
hiding-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
How
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From this reading “How strange that he should have been so near us, and we not know the fact!
idle
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From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a curious coincidence which thus revived in their memories a name now almost forgotten.
interested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a curious coincidence which thus revived in their memories a name now almost forgotten.
judge
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From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “How strange that he should have been so near us, and we not know the fact!
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/
Recollections of past events.
From this reading It was a curious coincidence which thus revived in their memories a name now almost forgotten.
Miss
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From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a curious coincidence which thus revived in their memories a name now almost forgotten.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How strange that he should have been so near us, and we not know the fact!
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “How strange that he should have been so near us, and we not know the fact!
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious coincidence which thus revived in their memories a name now almost forgotten.
oblivion
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From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
Olive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
Olive-and
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
paid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
partly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
revived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious coincidence which thus revived in their memories a name now almost forgotten.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
season
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
served
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “How strange that he should have been so near us, and we not know the fact!
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “How strange that he should have been so near us, and we not know the fact!
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How strange that he should have been so near us, and we not know the fact!
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was a curious coincidence which thus revived in their memories a name now almost forgotten.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious coincidence which thus revived in their memories a name now almost forgotten.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the dim light before night or sunrise
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “How strange that he should have been so near us, and we not know the fact!
Vanbrugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a curious coincidence which thus revived in their memories a name now almost forgotten.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “How strange that he should have been so near us, and we not know the fact!
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The subject of Harold Gwynne served Olive-and her mother for a full half-hour's conversation during that idle twilight season which they always devoted to pleasant talk.
whim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These she had the curiosity to take from their hiding-place, and examine once more--partly for her mother's amusement, partly for her own; for it was a whim of hers to judge of character by hand-writing, and she really had been quite interested in the character which both Miss Vanbrugh and her brother had drawn.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading For, the debt once paid, Mr. Gwynne and all things connected with him had passed into complete oblivion, save that Olive carefully kept his letters.
