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 parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
aid
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From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
all
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From this reading They resisted all these impulses: the last, perhaps, was the most difficult.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
away
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From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
back
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From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
beer
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From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
burning
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From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
call
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From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
came
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From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
carry
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From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
claret
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From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
consideration
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From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
consoling
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From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
desire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
difficult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They resisted all these impulses: the last, perhaps, was the most difficult.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
eat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
eaten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
enough
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From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
evening
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From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
forces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
harm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
implore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
impulses
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From this reading They resisted all these impulses: the last, perhaps, was the most difficult.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
Lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They resisted all these impulses: the last, perhaps, was the most difficult.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
LOST
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOST SON.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
misery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They resisted all these impulses: the last, perhaps, was the most difficult.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
overcome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
parents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
Penton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They resisted all these impulses: the last, perhaps, was the most difficult.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
prudence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
remonstrating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
renewed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
resisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They resisted all these impulses: the last, perhaps, was the most difficult.
respected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
sandwiches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
seclusion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
SON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOST SON.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
strengthen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
sustain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
temptation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LOST SON.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading They resisted all these impulses: the last, perhaps, was the most difficult.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They resisted all these impulses: the last, perhaps, was the most difficult.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
tray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
Wat's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents respected poor Wat’s seclusion, his misery and trouble, though it was so hard to keep away from him; not to go and talk to him, remonstrating or consoling; not to carry him a tray, to implore him to eat a little.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lady Penton had to call to her aid all the forces of her mind, to strengthen herself by every consideration of prudence, before she could overcome the burning desire which came back and back, with renewed temptation, a hundred times in the course of the evening to take up that tray.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A few sandwiches, a little claret, or some beer, would have done him no harm; and who could tell whether he had eaten enough to sustain his strength in the course of the day?
