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 “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
approbation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
bairn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
begun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whisht, Menie--my darling, what makes you cry?”
darling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whisht, Menie--my darling, what makes you cry?”
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
engagement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
estranged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
Home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
Laurie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
makes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whisht, Menie--my darling, what makes you cry?”
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
Menie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
permitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
pleasednounUS /ˈpleased/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
Randall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
serious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
stranger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
superior
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
tears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
unseasonable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Whisht, Menie--my darling, what makes you cry?”
Whisht
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whisht, Menie--my darling, what makes you cry?”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
