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 I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading I wished above all not to leave myself time to think over the position I had accepted, for, in spite of myself, it was a great distress to me.
accepted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wished above all not to leave myself time to think over the position I had accepted, for, in spite of myself, it was a great distress to me.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was the day after the evening when she came to see me that I sent her Manon Lescaut.
agree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wished above all not to leave myself time to think over the position I had accepted, for, in spite of myself, it was a great distress to me.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Thus my life, generally so calm, assumed all at once an appearance of noise and disorder.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Thus my life, generally so calm, assumed all at once an appearance of noise and disorder.
apart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Thus my life, generally so calm, assumed all at once an appearance of noise and disorder.
assumed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus my life, generally so calm, assumed all at once an appearance of noise and disorder.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Thus my life, generally so calm, assumed all at once an appearance of noise and disorder.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
calm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus my life, generally so calm, assumed all at once an appearance of noise and disorder.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
change
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that time, seeing that I could not change my mistress’s life, I changed my own.
changed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that time, seeing that I could not change my mistress’s life, I changed my own.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From that time, seeing that I could not change my mistress’s life, I changed my own.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the day after the evening when she came to see me that I sent her Manon Lescaut.
disorder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus my life, generally so calm, assumed all at once an appearance of noise and disorder.
distressnounUS /dɪˈstrɛs/
extreme sadness or suffering
From this reading I wished above all not to leave myself time to think over the position I had accepted, for, in spite of myself, it was a great distress to me.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the day after the evening when she came to see me that I sent her Manon Lescaut.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I wished above all not to leave myself time to think over the position I had accepted, for, in spite of myself, it was a great distress to me.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
generally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus my life, generally so calm, assumed all at once an appearance of noise and disorder.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I wished above all not to leave myself time to think over the position I had accepted, for, in spite of myself, it was a great distress to me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I wished above all not to leave myself time to think over the position I had accepted, for, in spite of myself, it was a great distress to me.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was the day after the evening when she came to see me that I sent her Manon Lescaut.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the day after the evening when she came to see me that I sent her Manon Lescaut.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wished above all not to leave myself time to think over the position I had accepted, for, in spite of myself, it was a great distress to me.
Lescaut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the day after the evening when she came to see me that I sent her Manon Lescaut.
liaison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From that time, seeing that I could not change my mistress’s life, I changed my own.
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
Manon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the day after the evening when she came to see me that I sent her Manon Lescaut.
Marguerite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
mistress's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that time, seeing that I could not change my mistress’s life, I changed my own.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading From that time, seeing that I could not change my mistress’s life, I changed my own.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I wished above all not to leave myself time to think over the position I had accepted, for, in spite of myself, it was a great distress to me.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus my life, generally so calm, assumed all at once an appearance of noise and disorder.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading From that time, seeing that I could not change my mistress’s life, I changed my own.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus my life, generally so calm, assumed all at once an appearance of noise and disorder.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I wished above all not to leave myself time to think over the position I had accepted, for, in spite of myself, it was a great distress to me.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that time, seeing that I could not change my mistress’s life, I changed my own.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wished above all not to leave myself time to think over the position I had accepted, for, in spite of myself, it was a great distress to me.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that time, seeing that I could not change my mistress’s life, I changed my own.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the day after the evening when she came to see me that I sent her Manon Lescaut.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was the day after the evening when she came to see me that I sent her Manon Lescaut.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Thus my life, generally so calm, assumed all at once an appearance of noise and disorder.
spite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wished above all not to leave myself time to think over the position I had accepted, for, in spite of myself, it was a great distress to me.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was the day after the evening when she came to see me that I sent her Manon Lescaut.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I wished above all not to leave myself time to think over the position I had accepted, for, in spite of myself, it was a great distress to me.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
Thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus my life, generally so calm, assumed all at once an appearance of noise and disorder.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From that time, seeing that I could not change my mistress’s life, I changed my own.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
unable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the day after the evening when she came to see me that I sent her Manon Lescaut.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It was the day after the evening when she came to see me that I sent her Manon Lescaut.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
wished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I might have told you of the beginning of this liaison in a few lines, but I wanted you to see every step by which we came, I to agree to whatever Marguerite wished, Marguerite to be unable to live apart from me.
