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 She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
Andy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Pleased to see you, Mr. Deane,” she said, when Andy, very flat and shining about the head, was ushered in.
arrival
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From this reading STAMFORD, the wife of the Squire of the parish, stood before the mantelpiece awaiting the arrival of the new Vicar.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
awaiting
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From this reading STAMFORD, the wife of the Squire of the parish, stood before the mantelpiece awaiting the arrival of the new Vicar.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading STAMFORD, the wife of the Squire of the parish, stood before the mantelpiece awaiting the arrival of the new Vicar.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
cling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
dared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
Deane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Pleased to see you, Mr. Deane,” she said, when Andy, very flat and shining about the head, was ushered in.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
energetic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
EvennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
flat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Pleased to see you, Mr. Deane,” she said, when Andy, very flat and shining about the head, was ushered in.
garments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Pleased to see you, Mr. Deane,” she said, when Andy, very flat and shining about the head, was ushered in.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
mantelpiece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STAMFORD, the wife of the Squire of the parish, stood before the mantelpiece awaiting the arrival of the new Vicar.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Pleased to see you, Mr. Deane,” she said, when Andy, very flat and shining about the head, was ushered in.
MRS
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From this reading MRS.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STAMFORD, the wife of the Squire of the parish, stood before the mantelpiece awaiting the arrival of the new Vicar.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading STAMFORD, the wife of the Squire of the parish, stood before the mantelpiece awaiting the arrival of the new Vicar.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
parish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STAMFORD, the wife of the Squire of the parish, stood before the mantelpiece awaiting the arrival of the new Vicar.
PleasednounUS /ˈpleased/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Pleased to see you, Mr. Deane,” she said, when Andy, very flat and shining about the head, was ushered in.
repose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Pleased to see you, Mr. Deane,” she said, when Andy, very flat and shining about the head, was ushered in.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Pleased to see you, Mr. Deane,” she said, when Andy, very flat and shining about the head, was ushered in.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
shining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Pleased to see you, Mr. Deane,” she said, when Andy, very flat and shining about the head, was ushered in.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
spare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
Squire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STAMFORD, the wife of the Squire of the parish, stood before the mantelpiece awaiting the arrival of the new Vicar.
STAMFORD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STAMFORD, the wife of the Squire of the parish, stood before the mantelpiece awaiting the arrival of the new Vicar.
startnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading STAMFORD, the wife of the Squire of the parish, stood before the mantelpiece awaiting the arrival of the new Vicar.
tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading STAMFORD, the wife of the Squire of the parish, stood before the mantelpiece awaiting the arrival of the new Vicar.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
ushered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Pleased to see you, Mr. Deane,” she said, when Andy, very flat and shining about the head, was ushered in.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Pleased to see you, Mr. Deane,” she said, when Andy, very flat and shining about the head, was ushered in.
Vicar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STAMFORD, the wife of the Squire of the parish, stood before the mantelpiece awaiting the arrival of the new Vicar.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Even in repose, Mrs. Stamford always looked as if she had that moment finished doing something energetic, or were just about to start again.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “Pleased to see you, Mr. Deane,” she said, when Andy, very flat and shining about the head, was ushered in.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STAMFORD, the wife of the Squire of the parish, stood before the mantelpiece awaiting the arrival of the new Vicar.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a tall, spare woman, and her garments always seemed to cling to her, not because they couldn’t come off, but because they dared not.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Pleased to see you, Mr. Deane,” she said, when Andy, very flat and shining about the head, was ushered in.
