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 His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
advice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
alive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
anticipating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
apologise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
asking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
chief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
damned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
dare
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From this reading I dare say!
deceive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
decision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
Dounia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
essential
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
hesitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
irrevocably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
Luzhin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
malignant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
marriage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
moment's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
mutteredverbUS /ˈmʌtərd/
spoke in a low voice that was difficult to hear
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
NevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
perfectly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
regards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I dare say!
settled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
torture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
triumph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
