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 They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
all
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From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
altogether
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From this reading She did not, however, altogether blind them, and she was glad enough when the need ceased, and she could go to bed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
aunties
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From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
bed
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From this reading She did not, however, altogether blind them, and she was glad enough when the need ceased, and she could go to bed.
blind
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From this reading She did not, however, altogether blind them, and she was glad enough when the need ceased, and she could go to bed.
briskadjectiveUS /brɪsk/
energetic and quick
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
burst
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From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
ceased
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From this reading She did not, however, altogether blind them, and she was glad enough when the need ceased, and she could go to bed.
chatter
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From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
contrived
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From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She did not, however, altogether blind them, and she was glad enough when the need ceased, and she could go to bed.
cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did not, however, altogether blind them, and she was glad enough when the need ceased, and she could go to bed.
dispensing
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From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
down
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From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
effort
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From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
Eileen
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From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did not, however, altogether blind them, and she was glad enough when the need ceased, and she could go to bed.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
fairly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
fashion
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From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
finding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
flung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
glad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did not, however, altogether blind them, and she was glad enough when the need ceased, and she could go to bed.
go
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From this reading She did not, however, altogether blind them, and she was glad enough when the need ceased, and she could go to bed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading She did not, however, altogether blind them, and she was glad enough when the need ceased, and she could go to bed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
inn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
Jack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
mode
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She did not, however, altogether blind them, and she was glad enough when the need ceased, and she could go to bed.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She did not, however, altogether blind them, and she was glad enough when the need ceased, and she could go to bed.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
overstrained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/
a feeling of comfort after worry or pain
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
settle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
sleeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
tears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She did not, however, altogether blind them, and she was glad enough when the need ceased, and she could go to bed.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
tremendous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
unsettled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had had her cry out, she lay quite still and tried to think—tried to understand how it was that the question she had meant to settle once for all in the afternoon was more unsettled than ever.
vanished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thought her a little strange at home that evening, but after a time Jack and Eileen vanished, and making a tremendous effort, she contrived to chatter to the aunties about her dispensing in a fairly brisk fashion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She did not, however, altogether blind them, and she was glad enough when the need ceased, and she could go to bed.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading She did not, however, altogether blind them, and she was glad enough when the need ceased, and she could go to bed.
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why was it more unsettled?
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Eileen was sleeping with her mother, and Jack at the inn, so that she had his little room all to herself, and as soon as she was alone she flung herself down on the bed and burst into tears, overstrained nature finding no other mode of relief.
