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 She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
absurd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In short, she suggested the absurd idea of a solemn, gawky Marlborough disguised as a cook.
air
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From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
allow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
assiduous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal breakfasted under the assiduous watchfulness of his servant, Madame Mesurat.
attention
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From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
attracting
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From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
bracket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
breakfasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal breakfasted under the assiduous watchfulness of his servant, Madame Mesurat.
build
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
ceasing
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From this reading It rained without ceasing.
certainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
cheeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
clothes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
contempt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
cook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In short, she suggested the absurd idea of a solemn, gawky Marlborough disguised as a cook.
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
disguised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In short, she suggested the absurd idea of a solemn, gawky Marlborough disguised as a cook.
dressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
drooped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
Durtal
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From this reading Durtal breakfasted under the assiduous watchfulness of his servant, Madame Mesurat.
emptied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
expression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
flabby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
gawky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In short, she suggested the absurd idea of a solemn, gawky Marlborough disguised as a cook.
giving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Durtal breakfasted under the assiduous watchfulness of his servant, Madame Mesurat.
hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In short, she suggested the absurd idea of a solemn, gawky Marlborough disguised as a cook.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It rained without ceasing.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal breakfasted under the assiduous watchfulness of his servant, Madame Mesurat.
Marlborough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In short, she suggested the absurd idea of a solemn, gawky Marlborough disguised as a cook.
masculine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
men's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
Mesurat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal breakfasted under the assiduous watchfulness of his servant, Madame Mesurat.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
nose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Durtal breakfasted under the assiduous watchfulness of his servant, Madame Mesurat.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
pear-shaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
pompous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
projecting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
rained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It rained without ceasing.
servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal breakfasted under the assiduous watchfulness of his servant, Madame Mesurat.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading In short, she suggested the absurd idea of a solemn, gawky Marlborough disguised as a cook.
solemn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In short, she suggested the absurd idea of a solemn, gawky Marlborough disguised as a cook.
stalwart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
suggested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In short, she suggested the absurd idea of a solemn, gawky Marlborough disguised as a cook.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Durtal breakfasted under the assiduous watchfulness of his servant, Madame Mesurat.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
touched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Durtal breakfasted under the assiduous watchfulness of his servant, Madame Mesurat.
underlip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
watchfulness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal breakfasted under the assiduous watchfulness of his servant, Madame Mesurat.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had a pear-shaped head, cheeks that hung flabby as if they had been emptied of air, a pompous nose that drooped till it very nearly touched a projecting underlip like a bracket, giving her an expression of determined contempt which she very certainly had never felt.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It rained without ceasing.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She was one of those women whose stalwart build and masculine presence would allow of their dressing in men's clothes without attracting attention.
