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 Eh bien! my dear Eleanor, could you have thought of a better excuse for me?
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
anticipate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
ARDENNE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM LADY FLORA ARDENNE TO MISS ELEANOR TREVANION.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
attend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
ay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
ball
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
balls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eh bien! my dear Eleanor, could you have thought of a better excuse for me?
bien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eh bien! my dear Eleanor, could you have thought of a better excuse for me?
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
children's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
chronologically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Eh bien! my dear Eleanor, could you have thought of a better excuse for me?
cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
danced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
dancing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eh bien! my dear Eleanor, could you have thought of a better excuse for me?
dearest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
earnestly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
Eh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eh bien! my dear Eleanor, could you have thought of a better excuse for me?
ELEANOR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM LADY FLORA ARDENNE TO MISS ELEANOR TREVANION.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
excuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eh bien! my dear Eleanor, could you have thought of a better excuse for me?
FLORA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM LADY FLORA ARDENNE TO MISS ELEANOR TREVANION.
fond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Eh bien! my dear Eleanor, could you have thought of a better excuse for me?
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
FROMprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading FROM LADY FLORA ARDENNE TO MISS ELEANOR TREVANION.
gayeties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
impute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
LADY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM LADY FLORA ARDENNE TO MISS ELEANOR TREVANION.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Eh bien! my dear Eleanor, could you have thought of a better excuse for me?
MISS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM LADY FLORA ARDENNE TO MISS ELEANOR TREVANION.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
negligence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
notches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
ones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
permitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
pleasures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
punctually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
reckoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
seven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
significant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
stick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
surrounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Eh bien! my dear Eleanor, could you have thought of a better excuse for me?
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I found a stick the other day, on which I had cut seven notches, significant of seven days more to the next ball; we reckoned time by balls then, and danced chronologically.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FROM LADY FLORA ARDENNE TO MISS ELEANOR TREVANION.
TREVANION
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM LADY FLORA ARDENNE TO MISS ELEANOR TREVANION.
uncle's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
wont
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how fond we--ay, dearest, you as well as I--used to be of dancing, and how earnestly we were wont to anticipate those children's balls at my uncle's, which were the only ones we were ever permitted to attend.
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You say that I have not written to you so punctually of late as I used to do before I came to London, and you impute my negligence to the gayeties and pleasures by which I am surrounded.
