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 There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
aftermath
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From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
back
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From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
call
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From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
confusion
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From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
constraint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
cordiality
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From this reading There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
correspondence
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From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
depths
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From this reading There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
duty
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From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
endless
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From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
Enslee
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From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
family
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From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
felt
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From this reading The present Mrs. Enslee felt now a sympathy for the old woman she had hated.
fierce
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From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The present Mrs. Enslee felt now a sympathy for the old woman she had hated.
formally
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From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
give
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From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
gleaming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
gossip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
hated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The present Mrs. Enslee felt now a sympathy for the old woman she had hated.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
husband's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
invitations
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From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
left
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From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
Medusa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
meeting
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From this reading There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The present Mrs. Enslee felt now a sympathy for the old woman she had hated.
murky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
name
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
newspapers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
occasion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
part
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
pay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
Persis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The present Mrs. Enslee felt now a sympathy for the old woman she had hated.
proffer
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From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
queen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
queen-mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
similar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
step
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
streams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
sympathy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The present Mrs. Enslee felt now a sympathy for the old woman she had hated.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
triflenounUS /ˈtraɪfəl/
something that needs very little effort
From this reading There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
understood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mother had had to give up part of her name, too, and step back from being queen to being queen-mother, with endless confusion in the newspapers, the invitations, the correspondence, and the gossip.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
welcome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
went
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was the most gleaming cordiality on the surface of their meeting, but the depths of both streams were a trifle murky.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
Willie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Willie's mother left him in the aftermath of his nightmare she went to pay her duty call on Persis, to welcome her formally into the family and proffer her the use of the family name.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Willie's mother understood now why her own husband's fierce old mother, known as "Medusa" Enslee, had received her with such constraint on a similar occasion.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The present Mrs. Enslee felt now a sympathy for the old woman she had hated.
