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 Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There were no two opinions about that.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was like fairyland, the Duchess was wont to declare, year after year.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
annual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
apt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
arbours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
bean-feast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
bore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
Chinese
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
Church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
closely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
clungnounUS /clung/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
conversion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
declare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like fairyland, the Duchess was wont to declare, year after year.
directlynounUS /ˈdirectly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
Don
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
Duchess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like fairyland, the Duchess was wont to declare, year after year.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
example
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
fairyland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like fairyland, the Duchess was wont to declare, year after year.
festooned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
Francesco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
hundreds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
impending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was like fairyland, the Duchess was wont to declare, year after year.
Keith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
lamps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
laughingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like fairyland, the Duchess was wont to declare, year after year.
mingled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
moon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
multi-coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There were no two opinions about that.
occasion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
opinions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no two opinions about that.
overhead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
pleasantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
properly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
purer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
radiance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
repliednounUS /replied/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
Roman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
shining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
skirts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There were no two opinions about that.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no two opinions about that.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no two opinions about that.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
ways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were no two opinions about that.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading And Don Francesco who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
winding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The trees, arbours, and winding ways of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead.
wont
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like fairyland, the Duchess was wont to declare, year after year.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like fairyland, the Duchess was wont to declare, year after year.
