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 A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
Agra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four days later we were in Agra.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
bulbul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
Commanding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
confess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I confess these my preoccupations.
considerations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
corrugated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four days later we were in Agra.
dining-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
District
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
domes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
dreams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
enchantmentnounUS /ɪnˈtʃæntmənt/
a magic spell or the state caused by one
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
forty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
Four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four days later we were in Agra.
gardens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
General
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
headquarters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Four days later we were in Agra.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
John's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four days later we were in Agra.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
marble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I confess these my preoccupations.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
pondered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
practical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
prayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
preoccupations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I confess these my preoccupations.
prospect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
provided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
rejoiced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
roof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
seat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
sings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
Taj
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
thatch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading I confess these my preoccupations.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Four days later we were in Agra.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Four days later we were in Agra.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I was rejoiced to think I would look again upon the Taj; and the prospect of living with it was a real enchantment; but I pondered most the kind of house that would be provided for the General Commanding the District, how many the dining-room would seat, and whether it would have a roof of thatch or of corrugated iron--I prayed against corrugated iron.
world-renowned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was forty, and at forty the practical considerations of life hold their own even against domes of marble, world-renowned, and set about with gardens where the bulbul sings to the rose.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A time there was when the name would have been the key of dreams to me; now it stood for John’s headquarters.
