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 About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The day was done, and Fancy was again in the school-house.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The day was done, and Fancy was again in the school-house.
anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/
any person at all
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day was done, and Fancy was again in the school-house.
Dewy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thinking—of her lover Dick Dewy?
Dick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thinking—of her lover Dick Dewy?
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The day was done, and Fancy was again in the school-house.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
eight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
ereconjunctionUS /er/
an old word for “before”
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
Fancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day was done, and Fancy was again in the school-house.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
frame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was thinking—of her lover Dick Dewy?
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The day was done, and Fancy was again in the school-house.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
lover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thinking—of her lover Dick Dewy?
married
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
nine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not precisely.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
precisely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not precisely.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
rule
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
school-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day was done, and Fancy was again in the school-house.
schoolroom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
step-mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
strange-tempered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The day was done, and Fancy was again in the school-house.
thinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She was thinking—of her lover Dick Dewy?
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
unbearable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
wandered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About five o’clock it began to rain, and in rather a dull frame of mind she wandered into the schoolroom, for want of something better to do.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The day was done, and Fancy was again in the school-house.
weary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
wedding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
Yalbury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Of how weary she was of living alone: how unbearable it would be to return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange-tempered step-mother; that it was far better to be married to anybody than do that; that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere the wedding could take place.