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 That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
acknowledge
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From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
affections
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From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
all
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From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
basely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
blame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Obviously it was I who was to blame for Rose’s wickedness.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
capacity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember the phrase distinctly—never darken his door: he must have carried it in his mind from a melodrama witnessed in his youth.
completenounUS /complete/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
darken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
disgracenounUS /dɪsˈɡreɪs/
shame caused by unacceptable behaviour
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
distinctly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember the phrase distinctly—never darken his door: he must have carried it in his mind from a melodrama witnessed in his youth.
doctornounUS /doctor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
Edmund
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
esteemed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
failed
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From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Obviously it was I who was to blame for Rose’s wickedness.
forget
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I remember the phrase distinctly—never darken his door: he must have carried it in his mind from a melodrama witnessed in his youth.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I remember the phrase distinctly—never darken his door: he must have carried it in his mind from a melodrama witnessed in his youth.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
ill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I remember the phrase distinctly—never darken his door: he must have carried it in his mind from a melodrama witnessed in his youth.
indebted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Obviously it was I who was to blame for Rose’s wickedness.
knew
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From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
ladyship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
melodrama
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember the phrase distinctly—never darken his door: he must have carried it in his mind from a melodrama witnessed in his youth.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I remember the phrase distinctly—never darken his door: he must have carried it in his mind from a melodrama witnessed in his youth.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
Much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I remember the phrase distinctly—never darken his door: he must have carried it in his mind from a melodrama witnessed in his youth.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
Obviously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Obviously it was I who was to blame for Rose’s wickedness.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
phrase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember the phrase distinctly—never darken his door: he must have carried it in his mind from a melodrama witnessed in his youth.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading I remember the phrase distinctly—never darken his door: he must have carried it in his mind from a melodrama witnessed in his youth.
Ronnie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
Rose's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Obviously it was I who was to blame for Rose’s wickedness.
salutation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
son's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
stating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
stolen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The next afternoon her ladyship, Ronnie’s mother, failed to acknowledge my salutation, and I knew that my disgrace was complete.
weakened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Obviously it was I who was to blame for Rose’s wickedness.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
wickedness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Obviously it was I who was to blame for Rose’s wickedness.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
wish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening I received by hand a letter from Sir Edmund stating that after what had happened it was the wish of himself and his wife that I should never darken his door again.
witnessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember the phrase distinctly—never darken his door: he must have carried it in his mind from a melodrama witnessed in his youth.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Much as they had esteemed me in the past, the letter continued, and much even as they were indebted to me in my capacity as a doctor, they could never forget that their poor son’s affections had been basely stolen—all ill and weakened as he was—by a woman whom I had brought up.
youth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember the phrase distinctly—never darken his door: he must have carried it in his mind from a melodrama witnessed in his youth.
