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 She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
Ah
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From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
amused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Everett dropped his head upon his hand and sat looking at the rug.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
bitter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
cared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How much you have cared!” he said.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
changed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
closing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
comfort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
completely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
critic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everett dropped his head upon his hand and sat looking at the rug.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
Everett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everett dropped his head upon his hand and sat looking at the rug.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
garment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
glittering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
gradually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everett dropped his head upon his hand and sat looking at the rug.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “How much you have cared!” he said.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “How much you have cared!” he said.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everett dropped his head upon his hand and sat looking at the rug.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Everett dropped his head upon his hand and sat looking at the rug.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How much you have cared!” he said.
humor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
imaginenounUS /ˈimagine/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
ironical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
long-drawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everett dropped his head upon his hand and sat looking at the rug.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
mask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
mirror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How much you have cared!” he said.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
observer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
perfectly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/
a feeling of comfort after worry or pain
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
repliednounUS /replied/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
rug
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everett dropped his head upon his hand and sat looking at the rug.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How much you have cared!” he said.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everett dropped his head upon his hand and sat looking at the rug.
satirist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
scathing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
sigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
someonepronounUS /ˈsʌmwʌn/
a person, without saying who
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Everett dropped his head upon his hand and sat looking at the rug.
weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/
a lack of physical strength
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
wornverbUS /wɔːrn/
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
wrapped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She gave the old line with a certain bitter humor, and with the hard, bright smile in which of old she had wrapped her weakness as in a glittering garment.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That ironical smile, worn like a mask through so many years, had gradually changed even the lines of her face completely, and when she looked in the mirror she saw not herself, but the scathing critic, the amused observer and satirist of herself.
yes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah, yes, I cared,” she replied, closing her eyes with a long-drawn sigh of relief; and lying perfectly still, she went on: “You can't imagine what a comfort it is to have you know how I cared, what a relief it is to be able to tell it to someone.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “How much you have cared!” he said.
