Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
advised
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From this reading What, she asked herself, would happen meanwhile if she ignored the anonymous letter, as he advised?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
anonymous
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From this reading What, she asked herself, would happen meanwhile if she ignored the anonymous letter, as he advised?
anxious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading What, she asked herself, would happen meanwhile if she ignored the anonymous letter, as he advised?
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading What, she asked herself, would happen meanwhile if she ignored the anonymous letter, as he advised?
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
Cora's
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From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
desire
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From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
DoctornounUS /doctor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
encouragement
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From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
England
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/
to think that something will happen
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
extent
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From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
GRIP
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From this reading THE TIGHTENING GRIP.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
happen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What, she asked herself, would happen meanwhile if she ignored the anonymous letter, as he advised?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading What, she asked herself, would happen meanwhile if she ignored the anonymous letter, as he advised?
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading What, she asked herself, would happen meanwhile if she ignored the anonymous letter, as he advised?
ignored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What, she asked herself, would happen meanwhile if she ignored the anonymous letter, as he advised?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
intended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
Jersey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
Johnson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
Johnson's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What, she asked herself, would happen meanwhile if she ignored the anonymous letter, as he advised?
meanwhilenounUS /ˈmeanwhile/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading What, she asked herself, would happen meanwhile if she ignored the anonymous letter, as he advised?
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
optimism
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
paying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
remain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
ruin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
terrorize
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TIGHTENING GRIP.
threatened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
TIGHTENING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TIGHTENING GRIP.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
True
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did not expect to be back in England for several weeks, and Johnson had told her that he intended to remain in Jersey about the same length of time.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What, she asked herself, would happen meanwhile if she ignored the anonymous letter, as he advised?
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Johnson’s optimism and words of encouragement set Cora’s mind at rest to some extent, but she still felt anxious.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading What, she asked herself, would happen meanwhile if she ignored the anonymous letter, as he advised?
writer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, he had pointed out that the writer of the letter could have no desire to ruin her good name, and that she threatened only in order to terrorize her into paying the money.
