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Chapter XXXI
"The name of the slough was Despond." Dancing is going on in the small drawing-room. A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely. It is quite an impromptu affair, quite informal. Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"The name of the slough was Despond."”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It is quite an impromptu affair, quite informal.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.”
an empty, uncultivated area of land
From this reading “Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is quite an impromptu affair, quite informal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It is quite an impromptu affair, quite informal.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dancing is going on in the small drawing-room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The name of the slough was Despond."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dancing is going on in the small drawing-room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dancing is going on in the small drawing-room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is quite an impromptu affair, quite informal.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dancing is going on in the small drawing-room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is quite an impromptu affair, quite informal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dancing is going on in the small drawing-room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is quite an impromptu affair, quite informal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "The name of the slough was Despond."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "The name of the slough was Despond."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Dancing is going on in the small drawing-room.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is quite an impromptu affair, quite informal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The name of the slough was Despond."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dancing is going on in the small drawing-room.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "The name of the slough was Despond."
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "The name of the slough was Despond."
an empty, uncultivated area of land
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
which person or people
From this reading Dicky Browne, altogether in his element, is flitting from flower to flower, saying beautiful nothings to any of the girls who are kind enough or silly enough to waste a moment on so irreclaimable a butterfly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few night broughams are still arriving, and young girls, accompanied by their brothers only, are making the room look lovely.
