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 The West End was a desert, and the shrill summons of the telephone was heard no more in Mayfair.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
after-cure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The West End was a desert, and the shrill summons of the telephone was heard no more in Mayfair.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
basement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Only people with urgent and onerous business were to be found in London.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
Book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everybody in the Red Book had left London.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only people with urgent and onerous business were to be found in London.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
caretaker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
colossal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
connected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
desert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The West End was a desert, and the shrill summons of the telephone was heard no more in Mayfair.
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
End
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The West End was a desert, and the shrill summons of the telephone was heard no more in Mayfair.
EverybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading Everybody in the Red Book had left London.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Only people with urgent and onerous business were to be found in London.
ghastly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
grouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Everybody in the Red Book had left London.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The West End was a desert, and the shrill summons of the telephone was heard no more in Mayfair.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
husband's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Everybody in the Red Book had left London.
inheritance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
Lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Everybody in the Red Book had left London.
legal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
lettuce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everybody in the Red Book had left London.
Lord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
luncheon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
Mayfair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The West End was a desert, and the shrill summons of the telephone was heard no more in Mayfair.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The West End was a desert, and the shrill summons of the telephone was heard no more in Mayfair.
muffin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
niece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The West End was a desert, and the shrill summons of the telephone was heard no more in Mayfair.
NobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The West End was a desert, and the shrill summons of the telephone was heard no more in Mayfair.
Okehampton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
onerous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only people with urgent and onerous business were to be found in London.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only people with urgent and onerous business were to be found in London.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
Red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everybody in the Red Book had left London.
sad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
shootingnounUS /ˈshooting/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
shrill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The West End was a desert, and the shrill summons of the telephone was heard no more in Mayfair.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
an official order to appear or respond
From this reading The West End was a desert, and the shrill summons of the telephone was heard no more in Mayfair.
Switzerland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
tea-parties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
telephone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The West End was a desert, and the shrill summons of the telephone was heard no more in Mayfair.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Everybody in the Red Book had left London.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Okehampton was shooting grouse, and Lady Okehampton ought to have been doing an after-cure in Switzerland; but "the sad state of my poor niece after her husband's ghastly death, and the legal business connected with her colossal inheritance, make it impossible for me to leave town.
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
urgent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only people with urgent and onerous business were to be found in London.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The West End was a desert, and the shrill summons of the telephone was heard no more in Mayfair.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
West
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The West End was a desert, and the shrill summons of the telephone was heard no more in Mayfair.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Only people with urgent and onerous business were to be found in London.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Nobody, unless it were the caretaker, was being asked to luncheon or dinner, and the only tea-parties were in the basement, where the late lettuce had not yet given place to the early muffin.
