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 GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
admired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As for Lois herself, she was only too thankful that she had escaped this fate, for boys and dogs were to her mind the dark blots in an otherwise fair world.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
arrive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As for Lois herself, she was only too thankful that she had escaped this fate, for boys and dogs were to her mind the dark blots in an otherwise fair world.
awkward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To begin with, her grandmother had made it very evident that she would have liked her much better if she had been a boy.
begin
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From this reading To begin with, her grandmother had made it very evident that she would have liked her much better if she had been a boy.
better
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From this reading To begin with, her grandmother had made it very evident that she would have liked her much better if she had been a boy.
blots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lois herself, she was only too thankful that she had escaped this fate, for boys and dogs were to her mind the dark blots in an otherwise fair world.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To begin with, her grandmother had made it very evident that she would have liked her much better if she had been a boy.
boys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lois herself, she was only too thankful that she had escaped this fate, for boys and dogs were to her mind the dark blots in an otherwise fair world.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
comfortable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lois herself, she was only too thankful that she had escaped this fate, for boys and dogs were to her mind the dark blots in an otherwise fair world.
dogs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lois herself, she was only too thankful that she had escaped this fate, for boys and dogs were to her mind the dark blots in an otherwise fair world.
escaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lois herself, she was only too thankful that she had escaped this fate, for boys and dogs were to her mind the dark blots in an otherwise fair world.
event
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
evident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To begin with, her grandmother had made it very evident that she would have liked her much better if she had been a boy.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As for Lois herself, she was only too thankful that she had escaped this fate, for boys and dogs were to her mind the dark blots in an otherwise fair world.
fate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lois herself, she was only too thankful that she had escaped this fate, for boys and dogs were to her mind the dark blots in an otherwise fair world.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
figure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
flow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
fond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
GRANDMOTHER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
guest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To begin with, her grandmother had made it very evident that she would have liked her much better if she had been a boy.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To begin with, her grandmother had made it very evident that she would have liked her much better if she had been a boy.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading To begin with, her grandmother had made it very evident that she would have liked her much better if she had been a boy.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To begin with, her grandmother had made it very evident that she would have liked her much better if she had been a boy.
language
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
liked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To begin with, her grandmother had made it very evident that she would have liked her much better if she had been a boy.
LOIS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
Lois's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To begin with, her grandmother had made it very evident that she would have liked her much better if she had been a boy.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As for Lois herself, she was only too thankful that she had escaped this fate, for boys and dogs were to her mind the dark blots in an otherwise fair world.
misgivings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To begin with, her grandmother had made it very evident that she would have liked her much better if she had been a boy.
named
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lois herself, she was only too thankful that she had escaped this fate, for boys and dogs were to her mind the dark blots in an otherwise fair world.
otherwise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lois herself, she was only too thankful that she had escaped this fate, for boys and dogs were to her mind the dark blots in an otherwise fair world.
Page
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
Pages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
rapid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
stately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
thankful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lois herself, she was only too thankful that she had escaped this fate, for boys and dogs were to her mind the dark blots in an otherwise fair world.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
tongue-tied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lois herself, she was only too thankful that she had escaped this fate, for boys and dogs were to her mind the dark blots in an otherwise fair world.
train
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois tried to think that she was very fond of her grandmother, but for some reason she never felt comfortable in her presence, and the more she admired her stately figure and rapid flow of language, the more awkward and tongue-tied she felt herself to be.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading GRANDMOTHER LOIS Lois’s grandmother, for whom she was named, was coming to make the Pages a visit, and both Lois and her mother were looking forward to this event with secret misgivings.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for Lois herself, she was only too thankful that she had escaped this fate, for boys and dogs were to her mind the dark blots in an otherwise fair world.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To begin with, her grandmother had made it very evident that she would have liked her much better if she had been a boy.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Lois, I think you had better come to the train with me to meet your grandmother,” said Mrs. Page, on the afternoon when their guest was to arrive.
