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 Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
absorbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
abstractedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
aloud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
attempted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
attending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
Balthazar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
cause
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
Claes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
condition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
conduct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
daughters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
footbath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
gazed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
hushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
inquiring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
Jean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
Josephine's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
knee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
Marguerite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
mechanically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
notice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
an old-fashioned sitting room
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
pondering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
problem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
rise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
sensible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
solicitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
solving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
SuchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
tender
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
trotted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
weak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
weigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
