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 Indeed, she was a little angry when she heard of the indiscriminate way in which Vance had scattered the invitations, particularly in Craterville.
accept
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From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
acted
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From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
adventurous
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From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
angry
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From this reading Indeed, she was a little angry when she heard of the indiscriminate way in which Vance had scattered the invitations, particularly in Craterville.
arrived
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From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
basis
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From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
bidden
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From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
birthday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
came
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From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
carefully
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From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
celebration
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From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
chosen
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From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
concerned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
Cornish
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From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
Craterville
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From this reading Indeed, she was a little angry when she heard of the indiscriminate way in which Vance had scattered the invitations, particularly in Craterville.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
Elizabeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
explanation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
families
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
fortunenounUS /ˈfortune/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
fully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
guests
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From this reading There were not many guests.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, she was a little angry when she heard of the indiscriminate way in which Vance had scattered the invitations, particularly in Craterville.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
Henry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
Indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, she was a little angry when she heard of the indiscriminate way in which Vance had scattered the invitations, particularly in Craterville.
indiscriminate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, she was a little angry when she heard of the indiscriminate way in which Vance had scattered the invitations, particularly in Craterville.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
invitations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, she was a little angry when she heard of the indiscriminate way in which Vance had scattered the invitations, particularly in Craterville.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
laying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Indeed, she was a little angry when she heard of the indiscriminate way in which Vance had scattered the invitations, particularly in Craterville.
many
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From this reading There were not many guests.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There were not many guests.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
otherwise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
particularly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, she was a little angry when she heard of the indiscriminate way in which Vance had scattered the invitations, particularly in Craterville.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
reckless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
Rockies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
scattered
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From this reading Indeed, she was a little angry when she heard of the indiscriminate way in which Vance had scattered the invitations, particularly in Craterville.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Indeed, she was a little angry when she heard of the indiscriminate way in which Vance had scattered the invitations, particularly in Craterville.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
spirit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were not many guests.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But, as he said, he had acted so as to show her that he had entered fully into the spirit of the thing, and that his heart was in the right place as far as this birthday party was concerned, and she could not do otherwise than accept his explanation.
Vance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, she was a little angry when she heard of the indiscriminate way in which Vance had scattered the invitations, particularly in Craterville.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Indeed, she was a little angry when she heard of the indiscriminate way in which Vance had scattered the invitations, particularly in Craterville.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were not many guests.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Elizabeth had chosen them carefully from families which had known her father, Henry Cornish, when, in his reckless, adventurous way, he had been laying the basis of the Cornish fortune in the Rockies.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Some of the bidden guests, however, came from a great distance, and as a matter of course a few of them arrived the day before the celebration and filled the quiet rooms of the old house with noise.
