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 WHITSUNTIDE Whitsuntide, which fell in June that year, found a large party assembled at the Abbey.
Abbey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHITSUNTIDE Whitsuntide, which fell in June that year, found a large party assembled at the Abbey.
Abington
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From this reading He had enjoyed those week-ends at Abington more consciously than he had enjoyed anything for years.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And yet there was 'nothing to do,' as he was careful to inform everybody whom he asked down.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading He had enjoyed those week-ends at Abington more consciously than he had enjoyed anything for years.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And yet there was 'nothing to do,' as he was careful to inform everybody whom he asked down.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And yet there was 'nothing to do,' as he was careful to inform everybody whom he asked down.
assembled
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From this reading WHITSUNTIDE Whitsuntide, which fell in June that year, found a large party assembled at the Abbey.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading WHITSUNTIDE Whitsuntide, which fell in June that year, found a large party assembled at the Abbey.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
bought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
careful
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From this reading And yet there was 'nothing to do,' as he was careful to inform everybody whom he asked down.
consciously
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From this reading He had enjoyed those week-ends at Abington more consciously than he had enjoyed anything for years.
country
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From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading And yet there was 'nothing to do,' as he was careful to inform everybody whom he asked down.
down
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From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
early
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From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
Easter
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From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
elaborate
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From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
enjoyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had enjoyed those week-ends at Abington more consciously than he had enjoyed anything for years.
entertain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading And yet there was 'nothing to do,' as he was careful to inform everybody whom he asked down.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHITSUNTIDE Whitsuntide, which fell in June that year, found a large party assembled at the Abbey.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had enjoyed those week-ends at Abington more consciously than he had enjoyed anything for years.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WHITSUNTIDE Whitsuntide, which fell in June that year, found a large party assembled at the Abbey.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
Friday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
golf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
Grafton
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From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
guests
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From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had enjoyed those week-ends at Abington more consciously than he had enjoyed anything for years.
hesitated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHITSUNTIDE Whitsuntide, which fell in June that year, found a large party assembled at the Abbey.
inform
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet there was 'nothing to do,' as he was careful to inform everybody whom he asked down.
interesting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
June
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHITSUNTIDE Whitsuntide, which fell in June that year, found a large party assembled at the Abbey.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHITSUNTIDE Whitsuntide, which fell in June that year, found a large party assembled at the Abbey.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
links
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had enjoyed those week-ends at Abington more consciously than he had enjoyed anything for years.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading And yet there was 'nothing to do,' as he was careful to inform everybody whom he asked down.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WHITSUNTIDE Whitsuntide, which fell in June that year, found a large party assembled at the Abbey.
preparations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
specially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
spendingnounUS /ˈspending/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He had enjoyed those week-ends at Abington more consciously than he had enjoyed anything for years.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading WHITSUNTIDE Whitsuntide, which fell in June that year, found a large party assembled at the Abbey.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHITSUNTIDE Whitsuntide, which fell in June that year, found a large party assembled at the Abbey.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet there was 'nothing to do,' as he was careful to inform everybody whom he asked down.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He had enjoyed those week-ends at Abington more consciously than he had enjoyed anything for years.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And yet there was 'nothing to do,' as he was careful to inform everybody whom he asked down.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Grafton had brought down a few friends every Friday since Easter, but this was the first time that the house had been full.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
week-ends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had enjoyed those week-ends at Abington more consciously than he had enjoyed anything for years.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading WHITSUNTIDE Whitsuntide, which fell in June that year, found a large party assembled at the Abbey.
WHITSUNTIDE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHITSUNTIDE Whitsuntide, which fell in June that year, found a large party assembled at the Abbey.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And yet there was 'nothing to do,' as he was careful to inform everybody whom he asked down.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would have hesitated himself, before he had bought Abington, over spending two and sometimes three and four days in the week in a country house, in late spring and early summer, with no very good golf links near, no river or sea, nothing, specially interesting in the way of guests, or elaborate in the preparations made to entertain them.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHITSUNTIDE Whitsuntide, which fell in June that year, found a large party assembled at the Abbey.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had enjoyed those week-ends at Abington more consciously than he had enjoyed anything for years.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet there was 'nothing to do,' as he was careful to inform everybody whom he asked down.
