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 What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
absence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
according
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
balls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Iogel’s were the most enjoyable balls in Moscow.
bowing
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From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
collected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That year two marriages had come of these balls.
condescension
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
danced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
dances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two pretty young Princesses Gorchakóv met suitors there and were married and so further increased the fame of these dances.
distinguished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
drop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
enjoyable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Iogel’s were the most enjoyable balls in Moscow.
executing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
fame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two pretty young Princesses Gorchakóv met suitors there and were married and so further increased the fame of these dances.
feather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
flying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
further
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two pretty young Princesses Gorchakóv met suitors there and were married and so further increased the fame of these dances.
good-natured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
Gorchakóv
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two pretty young Princesses Gorchakóv met suitors there and were married and so further increased the fame of these dances.
grown-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That year two marriages had come of these balls.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
host
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
hostess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Iogel’s were the most enjoyable balls in Moscow.
increased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two pretty young Princesses Gorchakóv met suitors there and were married and so further increased the fame of these dances.
Iogel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
Iogel's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Iogel’s were the most enjoyable balls in Moscow.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
maidens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
marriages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That year two marriages had come of these balls.
married
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two pretty young Princesses Gorchakóv met suitors there and were married and so further increased the fame of these dances.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two pretty young Princesses Gorchakóv met suitors there and were married and so further increased the fame of these dances.
Moscow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Iogel’s were the most enjoyable balls in Moscow.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Iogel’s were the most enjoyable balls in Moscow.
mothers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
newly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two pretty young Princesses Gorchakóv met suitors there and were married and so further increased the fame of these dances.
Princesses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two pretty young Princesses Gorchakóv met suitors there and were married and so further increased the fame of these dances.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
rules
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
suitors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two pretty young Princesses Gorchakóv met suitors there and were married and so further increased the fame of these dances.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That year two marriages had come of these balls.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Iogel’s were the most enjoyable balls in Moscow.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two pretty young Princesses Gorchakóv met suitors there and were married and so further increased the fame of these dances.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
tickets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That year two marriages had come of these balls.
visitors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Iogel’s were the most enjoyable balls in Moscow.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What distinguished them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of the good-natured Iogel, flying about like a feather and bowing according to the rules of his art, as he collected the tickets from all his visitors.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That year two marriages had come of these balls.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
youths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So said the mothers as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps, and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they were ready to drop, and so said the grown-up young men and women who came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most enjoyable.
