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 night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
affair
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From this reading Late that afternoon an odd discussion had arisen which came near wrecking the whole affair.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Late that afternoon an odd discussion had arisen which came near wrecking the whole affair.
all
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From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Late that afternoon an odd discussion had arisen which came near wrecking the whole affair.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
anxiously
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From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
arisen
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From this reading Late that afternoon an odd discussion had arisen which came near wrecking the whole affair.
arrive
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From this reading The guests began to arrive early, in order to have a long evening of enjoyment.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
ball
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From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The guests began to arrive early, in order to have a long evening of enjoyment.
brave
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From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
brilliant
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From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
came
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From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
completed
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From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
curtains
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From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
discussing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
discussion
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From this reading Late that afternoon an odd discussion had arisen which came near wrecking the whole affair.
Dorothy
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From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
drawn
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From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
early
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From this reading The guests began to arrive early, in order to have a long evening of enjoyment.
earth
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From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
enjoyment
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From this reading The guests began to arrive early, in order to have a long evening of enjoyment.
evening
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From this reading The guests began to arrive early, in order to have a long evening of enjoyment.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
forgot
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From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
Gables
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From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
general
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
Gray
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From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
guests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The guests began to arrive early, in order to have a long evening of enjoyment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The guests began to arrive early, in order to have a long evening of enjoyment.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
important
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The guests began to arrive early, in order to have a long evening of enjoyment.
Iris
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From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
Kemp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
Late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon an odd discussion had arisen which came near wrecking the whole affair.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
lighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
lights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The guests began to arrive early, in order to have a long evening of enjoyment.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
maidennoun, literaryUS /ˈmeɪdən/
a young woman who is not married
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon an odd discussion had arisen which came near wrecking the whole affair.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
odd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon an odd discussion had arisen which came near wrecking the whole affair.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The guests began to arrive early, in order to have a long evening of enjoyment.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
preparations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
presented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
receive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
sable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who should receive the guests.
sleeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
spectacle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
swain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon an odd discussion had arisen which came near wrecking the whole affair.
witnessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those who witnessed never forgot it.
wrecking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon an odd discussion had arisen which came near wrecking the whole affair.
