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 As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
all
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From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
always
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From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
anxiety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
army
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From this reading We had outstripped the army.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
ask
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From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
attack
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From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
BesidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
carriage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
demoralised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
disaster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
distracted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
Emperor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
Emperor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
flight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
French
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
fugitives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
guarding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
Lobau
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
message
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
minds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
nearest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
needs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
nine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
numbers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
observed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
outstripped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had outstripped the army.
overwhelmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
pressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
single
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
soldier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
Soult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
urgent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Besides, during this long flight we had always had numbers of French fugitives beside us on the road, and, however demoralised they might be, we had nothing to fear from the attack of nine men.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now, as we stood round the Emperor's carriage in the early morning, I observed with anxiety that not a single French soldier was to be seen upon the long, white road behind us.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading As a fact, I had tried to speak of it both to Soult and to Lobau, but their minds were so overwhelmed with the disaster and so distracted by the pressing needs of the moment that it was impossible to make them understand how urgent was my message.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You will ask me why it was that during all this time I had said nothing of that which was nearest my heart, the need for guarding the Emperor.
