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 THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
accommodation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
admirers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
amongstprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋst/
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading The word impossible was not permitted amongst those who had to carry out his wishes.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
army
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
arrival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
Boulogne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
Briques
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
buildings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
camp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
carry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The word impossible was not permitted amongst those who had to carry out his wishes.
chateau
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Empress had a chateau for her accommodation.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
cooks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
Court
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
crammed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
de
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
dignitaries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
Empire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
EMPRESS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
footmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Empress had a chateau for her accommodation.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The word impossible was not permitted amongst those who had to carry out his wishes.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The word impossible was not permitted amongst those who had to carry out his wishes.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
ladies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
named
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
Napoleon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The word impossible was not permitted amongst those who had to carry out his wishes.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The word impossible was not permitted amongst those who had to carry out his wishes.
permitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The word impossible was not permitted amongst those who had to carry out his wishes.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
Pont
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
RECEPTION
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
remain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
settled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
simpler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
suitable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The word impossible was not permitted amongst those who had to carry out his wishes.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading So an army of cooks and footmen settled upon the little place, and then there arrived the dignitaries of the new Empire, and then the ladies of the Court, and then their admirers from the camp.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
visitors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The word impossible was not permitted amongst those who had to carry out his wishes.
wishes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The word impossible was not permitted amongst those who had to carry out his wishes.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE RECEPTION OF THE EMPRESS Pont de Briques is but a small village, and this sudden arrival of the Court, which was to remain for some weeks, had crammed it with visitors.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The word impossible was not permitted amongst those who had to carry out his wishes.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would have been very much simpler to have come to Boulogne, where there were more suitable buildings and better accommodation, but Napoleon had named Pont de Briques, so Pont de Briques it had to be.
