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 No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
actually
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From this reading She had known always that the man, Mr. Jasper Vermont, who knew her secret, was alive; but never before had she been actually threatened with its betrayal.
Adrien
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From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
alive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had known always that the man, Mr. Jasper Vermont, who knew her secret, was alive; but never before had she been actually threatened with its betrayal.
all
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From this reading This sudden realisation of all the presentiment of evil which Lucy Ashford had ever in her mind, had burst on her like a thunderbolt.
always
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From this reading She had known always that the man, Mr. Jasper Vermont, who knew her secret, was alive; but never before had she been actually threatened with its betrayal.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
apace
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From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
arrival
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From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
Ashford
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From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
ball
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From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
banks
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From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
Barminster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She had known always that the man, Mr. Jasper Vermont, who knew her secret, was alive; but never before had she been actually threatened with its betrayal.
betrayalnounUS /bɪˈtreɪ.əl/
The action of betraying one's country, a group, or a person; breach of trust.
From this reading She had known always that the man, Mr. Jasper Vermont, who knew her secret, was alive; but never before had she been actually threatened with its betrayal.
burden
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From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
burst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had known always that the man, Mr. Jasper Vermont, who knew her secret, was alive; but never before had she been actually threatened with its betrayal.
Castle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
completely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
confusion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
departure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
disappearance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This sudden realisation of all the presentiment of evil which Lucy Ashford had ever in her mind, had burst on her like a thunderbolt.
evil
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From this reading This sudden realisation of all the presentiment of evil which Lucy Ashford had ever in her mind, had burst on her like a thunderbolt.
flood
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From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
floor
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From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
husband's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading She had known always that the man, Mr. Jasper Vermont, who knew her secret, was alive; but never before had she been actually threatened with its betrayal.
Jasper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
Jessica
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had known always that the man, Mr. Jasper Vermont, who knew her secret, was alive; but never before had she been actually threatened with its betrayal.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had known always that the man, Mr. Jasper Vermont, who knew her secret, was alive; but never before had she been actually threatened with its betrayal.
Leroy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This sudden realisation of all the presentiment of evil which Lucy Ashford had ever in her mind, had burst on her like a thunderbolt.
likelihood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
Lucy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had known always that the man, Mr. Jasper Vermont, who knew her secret, was alive; but never before had she been actually threatened with its betrayal.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This sudden realisation of all the presentiment of evil which Lucy Ashford had ever in her mind, had burst on her like a thunderbolt.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had known always that the man, Mr. Jasper Vermont, who knew her secret, was alive; but never before had she been actually threatened with its betrayal.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
preparations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
presentiment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This sudden realisation of all the presentiment of evil which Lucy Ashford had ever in her mind, had burst on her like a thunderbolt.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
realisation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This sudden realisation of all the presentiment of evil which Lucy Ashford had ever in her mind, had burst on her like a thunderbolt.
reigned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
Richmond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
sank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading She had known always that the man, Mr. Jasper Vermont, who knew her secret, was alive; but never before had she been actually threatened with its betrayal.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
sooner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
strain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This sudden realisation of all the presentiment of evil which Lucy Ashford had ever in her mind, had burst on her like a thunderbolt.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
tears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
Thames
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This sudden realisation of all the presentiment of evil which Lucy Ashford had ever in her mind, had burst on her like a thunderbolt.
threatened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had known always that the man, Mr. Jasper Vermont, who knew her secret, was alive; but never before had she been actually threatened with its betrayal.
thunderbolt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This sudden realisation of all the presentiment of evil which Lucy Ashford had ever in her mind, had burst on her like a thunderbolt.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
unconscious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
unnerved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
Vermont
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sooner had Mr. Jasper Vermont taken his departure, than poor Lucy Ashford sank on the floor of the shop, and burst into a flood of tears.
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This sudden realisation of all the presentiment of evil which Lucy Ashford had ever in her mind, had burst on her like a thunderbolt.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While the preparations for the ball at Barminster Castle had been going on apace, trouble and confusion reigned in the little village on the banks of the Thames.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading So great had been the strain that she was completely unnerved, and had quite forgotten the likelihood of her husband's return from Richmond, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Jessica, who had not been seen in the house since the arrival of Adrien Leroy and his unconscious burden.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had known always that the man, Mr. Jasper Vermont, who knew her secret, was alive; but never before had she been actually threatened with its betrayal.
