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 The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
accomplished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
agitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
anxious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
benign
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
cheerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
Claude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
composure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
concerned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
Constance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
cool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
cordialnounUS /cordial/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
draught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
effectually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
ExceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
guests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
Lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
Markham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
nervously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
perfectly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
retain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
