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 She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
adored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored each other, and Maud looked up to Hilda as to a divinity.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They adored each other, and Maud looked up to Hilda as to a divinity.
BAFFLED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BAFFLED REVENGE.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
confidentialadjectiveUS /ˌkɑnfəˈdɛnʃəl/
spoken privately and not for general knowledge
From this reading Hilda's most confidential secretary was her sister, Maud Fitzherbert.
devoted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
divinity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored each other, and Maud looked up to Hilda as to a divinity.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading They adored each other, and Maud looked up to Hilda as to a divinity.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
extraordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
Fitzherbert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda's most confidential secretary was her sister, Maud Fitzherbert.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
graceful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Hilda's most confidential secretary was her sister, Maud Fitzherbert.
Hilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
Hilda's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda's most confidential secretary was her sister, Maud Fitzherbert.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
inclination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
intellectual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
languages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
laws
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They adored each other, and Maud looked up to Hilda as to a divinity.
lovely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
mathematics
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
Maud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda's most confidential secretary was her sister, Maud Fitzherbert.
mental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda's most confidential secretary was her sister, Maud Fitzherbert.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored each other, and Maud looked up to Hilda as to a divinity.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
physical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
possessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
power
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
powersnounUS /powers/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
public
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
REVENGE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BAFFLED REVENGE.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
secretary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda's most confidential secretary was her sister, Maud Fitzherbert.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda's most confidential secretary was her sister, Maud Fitzherbert.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They adored each other, and Maud looked up to Hilda as to a divinity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hilda's most confidential secretary was her sister, Maud Fitzherbert.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had perhaps less inclination for public life; but both the girls were learned in physical laws, in mathematics, in living languages, in everything, in short, to which they devoted their extraordinary mental powers.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.
younger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was some two or three years younger, a lovely, graceful girl, and possessed of scarcely less intellectual power than Hilda.