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 A MATTER OF ANCIENT HISTORY.
admirably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
amounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
ANCIENTadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading A MATTER OF ANCIENT HISTORY.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The focusing cloth clung to her head like a cowl as she raised it and bowed.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Correctness of any kind, it is to be feared, was ridiculously wrong in her eyes.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The focusing cloth clung to her head like a cowl as she raised it and bowed.
attired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Correctness of any kind, it is to be feared, was ridiculously wrong in her eyes.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
bowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The focusing cloth clung to her head like a cowl as she raised it and bowed.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
Christina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
cloth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The focusing cloth clung to her head like a cowl as she raised it and bowed.
clothes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
clungnounUS /clung/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The focusing cloth clung to her head like a cowl as she raised it and bowed.
contact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
Correctness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Correctness of any kind, it is to be feared, was ridiculously wrong in her eyes.
cowl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The focusing cloth clung to her head like a cowl as she raised it and bowed.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Correctness of any kind, it is to be feared, was ridiculously wrong in her eyes.
feared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Correctness of any kind, it is to be feared, was ridiculously wrong in her eyes.
flourish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
focusing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The focusing cloth clung to her head like a cowl as she raised it and bowed.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The focusing cloth clung to her head like a cowl as she raised it and bowed.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The focusing cloth clung to her head like a cowl as she raised it and bowed.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
HISTORY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MATTER OF ANCIENT HISTORY.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
incorrect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Correctness of any kind, it is to be feared, was ridiculously wrong in her eyes.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The focusing cloth clung to her head like a cowl as she raised it and bowed.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Correctness of any kind, it is to be feared, was ridiculously wrong in her eyes.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The focusing cloth clung to her head like a cowl as she raised it and bowed.
Lord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
Manister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
MATTER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MATTER OF ANCIENT HISTORY.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
nervousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
noticing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A MATTER OF ANCIENT HISTORY.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
pleasure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
prevent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
raised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The focusing cloth clung to her head like a cowl as she raised it and bowed.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
reflecting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
ridiculously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Correctness of any kind, it is to be feared, was ridiculously wrong in her eyes.
shabby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The focusing cloth clung to her head like a cowl as she raised it and bowed.
sides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
sweep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
swiftness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The focusing cloth clung to her head like a cowl as she raised it and bowed.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The focusing cloth clung to her head like a cowl as she raised it and bowed.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
unusually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflecting that she was herself unusually shabby, her idea being that contact with the incorrect was rather good for him.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading There must have been nervousness on both sides, for the moment, but it did not prevent Lord Manister from taking off his hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes.
wrong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Correctness of any kind, it is to be feared, was ridiculously wrong in her eyes.
