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 He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
absolute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
adventure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
alternations
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From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
astounding
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From this reading Every week supplied him with new and astounding Swettenham statistics.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
attention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
Christopher
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From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
cost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
despair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
discoursed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
Eastbourne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
entertain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
errand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every week supplied him with new and astounding Swettenham statistics.
explanation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
firm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
glories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He would like to see that house; in fact, he must see it.
junior
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
knight-errantry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would like to see that house; in fact, he must see it.
member
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
modestly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He would like to see that house; in fact, he must see it.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every week supplied him with new and astounding Swettenham statistics.
NOTadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
offending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
Parish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
penny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
permitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
pounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
press
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
report
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
SECRETnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
sixty-five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
Sparkes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
statistics
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every week supplied him with new and astounding Swettenham statistics.
suffered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
supplied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every week supplied him with new and astounding Swettenham statistics.
Swettenham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NOT IN THE SECRET Since his adventure in knight-errantry Christopher Parish had suffered terrible alternations of hope and despair.
thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every week supplied him with new and astounding Swettenham statistics.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading For fear of offending Miss Sparkes he did not press for an explanation of the errand on which she had sent him enough that he was again permitted to see her, to entertain her modestly, and to hold her attention whilst he discoursed on the glories of the firm of Swettenham.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Every week supplied him with new and astounding Swettenham statistics.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He was able to report, as "an absolute fact," that a junior member of the firm--a junior, mind you--was building a house at Eastbourne which would cost him, all told, not one penny less than sixty-five thousand pounds!
