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 and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
alarm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the circumstances, her concern—her alarm, indeed—was natural.
all
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From this reading And Israel appreciated it all; nay, he fairly gloated over it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
any
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From this reading She would have taken much larger risks than that; she would have faced any danger her mind could conceive of.
appreciated
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From this reading And Israel appreciated it all; nay, he fairly gloated over it.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
bitter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought nothing of her feat of climbing the mountain in the bitter cold and the overwhelming rain.
cake-baking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
circumstances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the circumstances, her concern—her alarm, indeed—was natural.
climbing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought nothing of her feat of climbing the mountain in the bitter cold and the overwhelming rain.
clothes-making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought nothing of her feat of climbing the mountain in the bitter cold and the overwhelming rain.
conceive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would have taken much larger risks than that; she would have faced any danger her mind could conceive of.
concern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the circumstances, her concern—her alarm, indeed—was natural.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
danger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would have taken much larger risks than that; she would have faced any danger her mind could conceive of.
disposednounUS /ˈdisposed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
expressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would have taken much larger risks than that; she would have faced any danger her mind could conceive of.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
fairly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Israel appreciated it all; nay, he fairly gloated over it.
feat
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From this reading She thought nothing of her feat of climbing the mountain in the bitter cold and the overwhelming rain.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
gloated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Israel appreciated it all; nay, he fairly gloated over it.
grandfather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She would have taken much larger risks than that; she would have faced any danger her mind could conceive of.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And Israel appreciated it all; nay, he fairly gloated over it.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Under the circumstances, her concern—her alarm, indeed—was natural.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the circumstances, her concern—her alarm, indeed—was natural.
Israel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
larger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would have taken much larger risks than that; she would have faced any danger her mind could conceive of.
married
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She would have taken much larger risks than that; she would have faced any danger her mind could conceive of.
mountain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought nothing of her feat of climbing the mountain in the bitter cold and the overwhelming rain.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would have taken much larger risks than that; she would have faced any danger her mind could conceive of.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the circumstances, her concern—her alarm, indeed—was natural.
nayexclamationUS /neɪ/
an old word for “no”
From this reading And Israel appreciated it all; nay, he fairly gloated over it.
necessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She thought nothing of her feat of climbing the mountain in the bitter cold and the overwhelming rain.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading And Israel appreciated it all; nay, he fairly gloated over it.
overwhelming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought nothing of her feat of climbing the mountain in the bitter cold and the overwhelming rain.
preliminaries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought nothing of her feat of climbing the mountain in the bitter cold and the overwhelming rain.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
risks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would have taken much larger risks than that; she would have faced any danger her mind could conceive of.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
sure-enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
sweethearts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would have taken much larger risks than that; she would have faced any danger her mind could conceive of.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She would have taken much larger risks than that; she would have faced any danger her mind could conceive of.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She would have taken much larger risks than that; she would have faced any danger her mind could conceive of.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Under the circumstances, her concern—her alarm, indeed—was natural.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She thought nothing of her feat of climbing the mountain in the bitter cold and the overwhelming rain.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under the circumstances, her concern—her alarm, indeed—was natural.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Under the circumstances, her concern—her alarm, indeed—was natural.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would have taken much larger risks than that; she would have faced any danger her mind could conceive of.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Israel had been sweethearts for years,—real sure-enough sweethearts, as she expressed it to her grandfather,—and they were to be married in a short while; just as soon, in fact, as the necessary preliminaries of clothes-making and cake-baking could be disposed of.
