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 When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
administered
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From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
air
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From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
Alexandria
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From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
always
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From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
angelic
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From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
any
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From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course Ida asked the usual questions:
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
beef
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From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
bending
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From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
best
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From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
came
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From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
cheerful
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From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
circumstance
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From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
contained
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From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course Ida asked the usual questions:
days
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From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
dispositionnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/
the way something is arranged or positioned
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
face
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From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
faces
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From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
fact
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From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
further
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
homely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
hospital
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
Ida
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From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
Ida's
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From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
invariably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
joke
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From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
made
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From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
merry
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From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
mild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
mysteries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
nurse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
placid
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From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
plain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
pride
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
problem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
questions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course Ida asked the usual questions:
rank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
satisfaction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
smiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
smiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
tea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
unconscious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
undertaker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course Ida asked the usual questions:
ward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
WhereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" and the sister told her that she was in the Alexandria ward of the London Hospital, and that she had been there, unconscious, for ten days.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nurse smiled as if it were the best joke, in a mild way, in the world, and answered Ida's further questions while she administered beef tea with an air of pride and satisfaction which made her plain and homely face seem angelic to Ida.
worthyadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːr.ði/
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading Why a hospital nurse should under any and every circumstance be invariably cheerful is one of those mysteries worthy to rank with the problem contained in the fact that an undertaker is nearly always of a merry disposition.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Ida came to she found the sister of the ward and a young nurse bending over her with placid and smiling faces.
