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 There was very little of that joy at Surbiton Cottage which should have been the forerunner of a wedding.
absence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
accuracy
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From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
Alaric
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From this reading Alaric told Gertrude how his missive had been treated, and Gertrude, of course, told her mother.
Alaric's
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From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Alaric told Gertrude how his missive had been treated, and Gertrude, of course, told her mother.
answer
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From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was very little of that joy at Surbiton Cottage which should have been the forerunner of a wedding.
augmented
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From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Alaric told Gertrude how his missive had been treated, and Gertrude, of course, told her mother.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
certificate
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From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
circle
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From this reading None of the Woodward circle were content thus to lose their friend.
content
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From this reading None of the Woodward circle were content thus to lose their friend.
Cottage
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From this reading There was very little of that joy at Surbiton Cottage which should have been the forerunner of a wedding.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Alaric told Gertrude how his missive had been treated, and Gertrude, of course, told her mother.
duties
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From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
expired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
forerunner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was very little of that joy at Surbiton Cottage which should have been the forerunner of a wedding.
friend
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From this reading None of the Woodward circle were content thus to lose their friend.
Gertrude
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From this reading Alaric told Gertrude how his missive had been treated, and Gertrude, of course, told her mother.
guess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Alaric told Gertrude how his missive had been treated, and Gertrude, of course, told her mother.
Harry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There was very little of that joy at Surbiton Cottage which should have been the forerunner of a wedding.
hearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Alaric told Gertrude how his missive had been treated, and Gertrude, of course, told her mother.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alaric told Gertrude how his missive had been treated, and Gertrude, of course, told her mother.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
joy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was very little of that joy at Surbiton Cottage which should have been the forerunner of a wedding.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was very little of that joy at Surbiton Cottage which should have been the forerunner of a wedding.
lose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of the Woodward circle were content thus to lose their friend.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
medical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
missive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alaric told Gertrude how his missive had been treated, and Gertrude, of course, told her mother.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alaric told Gertrude how his missive had been treated, and Gertrude, of course, told her mother.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
NonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading None of the Woodward circle were content thus to lose their friend.
NORMAN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
prolonged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
reply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
returning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
RETURNS
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From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
scorenounUS /score/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
sending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading There was very little of that joy at Surbiton Cottage which should have been the forerunner of a wedding.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
sufficient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
Surbiton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was very little of that joy at Surbiton Cottage which should have been the forerunner of a wedding.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading None of the Woodward circle were content thus to lose their friend.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was very little of that joy at Surbiton Cottage which should have been the forerunner of a wedding.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of the Woodward circle were content thus to lose their friend.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Alaric told Gertrude how his missive had been treated, and Gertrude, of course, told her mother.
TOWN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
treated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alaric told Gertrude how his missive had been treated, and Gertrude, of course, told her mother.
unhappiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
unread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was very little of that joy at Surbiton Cottage which should have been the forerunner of a wedding.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
wedding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was very little of that joy at Surbiton Cottage which should have been the forerunner of a wedding.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading None of the Woodward circle were content thus to lose their friend.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading And then their unhappiness on this score was augmented by hearing that Harry had sent up a medical certificate, instead of returning to his duties when his prolonged leave of absence was expired.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was very little of that joy at Surbiton Cottage which should have been the forerunner of a wedding.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading NORMAN RETURNS TO TOWN Harry Norman made no answer to either of his three letters beyond that of sending Alaric's back unread; but this, without other reply, was sufficient to let them all guess, nearly with accuracy, what was the state of his mind.
Woodward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of the Woodward circle were content thus to lose their friend.
