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 While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
apparent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
attitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Madame Merle waited for Osmond to release their young friend from her _tête-à-tête_, and the Countess waited because Madame Merle did.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
begun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
breaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Countess, moreover, by waiting, found the time ripe for one of her pretty perversities.
cease
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
colloquy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
companion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
Countess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
definite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Madame Merle waited for Osmond to release their young friend from her _tête-à-tête_, and the Countess waited because Madame Merle did.
disguising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
duration
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
especially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
exchange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
expectancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
follow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Countess, moreover, by waiting, found the time ripe for one of her pretty perversities.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Madame Merle waited for Osmond to release their young friend from her _tête-à-tête_, and the Countess waited because Madame Merle did.
Gemini
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
impatience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
intimate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
ladies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
marked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
Merle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
minds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
moreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading The Countess, moreover, by waiting, found the time ripe for one of her pretty perversities.
nervous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Countess, moreover, by waiting, found the time ripe for one of her pretty perversities.
Osmond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Merle waited for Osmond to release their young friend from her _tête-à-tête_, and the Countess waited because Madame Merle did.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
perversities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Countess, moreover, by waiting, found the time ripe for one of her pretty perversities.
practised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Countess, moreover, by waiting, found the time ripe for one of her pretty perversities.
prolonged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
release
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Merle waited for Osmond to release their young friend from her _tête-à-tête_, and the Countess waited because Madame Merle did.
remarks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
ripe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Countess, moreover, by waiting, found the time ripe for one of her pretty perversities.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
success
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
sufficiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
temperament
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
tête-à-tête
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Merle waited for Osmond to release their young friend from her _tête-à-tête_, and the Countess waited because Madame Merle did.
unexpressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Merle waited for Osmond to release their young friend from her _tête-à-tête_, and the Countess waited because Madame Merle did.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While this sufficiently intimate colloquy (prolonged for some time after we cease to follow it) went forward Madame Merle and her companion, breaking a silence of some duration, had begun to exchange remarks.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading They were sitting in an attitude of unexpressed expectancy; an attitude especially marked on the part of the Countess Gemini, who, being of a more nervous temperament than her friend, practised with less success the art of disguising impatience.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading What these ladies were waiting for would not have been apparent and was perhaps not very definite to their own minds.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Merle waited for Osmond to release their young friend from her _tête-à-tête_, and the Countess waited because Madame Merle did.
