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 trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
amuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
Berkeley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
BLISS
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From this reading "WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS."
brilliant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
counted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
disappointmentnounUS /ˈdisappointment/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
Edgar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
Edgar's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
Francisco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
grief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
harder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
IGNORANCE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS."
ill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
indulge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
innocent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS."
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
languid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
latch-key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
ll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
mamma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
neared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
obvious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
Oh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
pleasures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
Polly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
putting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
remove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
standpoint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
stay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
success
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
surely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "You see, Edgar" (putting the latch-key in the door), "mamma is so languid and ill that she cannot indulge in many pleasures, and I had quite counted on you to amuse her a little for me this evening.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
trip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
WHEREconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading "WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS."
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
wishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Oh, but you surely will stay to dinner with us!" said Polly, with the most innocent look of disappointment on her face,--a look of such obvious grief that a person of any feeling could hardly help wishing to remove it, if possible.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The trip from Berkeley to San Francisco was a brilliant success from Edgar's standpoint, but Polly would have told you that she never worked harder in her life.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I 'll just say 'How do you do?' to your mother, and then be off," said Edgar, as they neared the house.