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 It was not only a blow of the keenest and cruelest kind to her affection, but it was the cruelest blow her vanity could possibly have received.
admirers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
affection
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From this reading It was not only a blow of the keenest and cruelest kind to her affection, but it was the cruelest blow her vanity could possibly have received.
all-important
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From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
beauty
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From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
blow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not only a blow of the keenest and cruelest kind to her affection, but it was the cruelest blow her vanity could possibly have received.
boudoir
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From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
conning
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From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was not only a blow of the keenest and cruelest kind to her affection, but it was the cruelest blow her vanity could possibly have received.
counted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
cruelest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not only a blow of the keenest and cruelest kind to her affection, but it was the cruelest blow her vanity could possibly have received.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
events
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
failed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
fro
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From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Was that simple girl, with her shy, timid, shrinking manner, more lovable than I?" she asked herself, incredulously.
grace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was not only a blow of the keenest and cruelest kind to her affection, but it was the cruelest blow her vanity could possibly have received.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
heiress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Was that simple girl, with her shy, timid, shrinking manner, more lovable than I?" she asked herself, incredulously.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Was that simple girl, with her shy, timid, shrinking manner, more lovable than I?" she asked herself, incredulously.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
incredulously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Was that simple girl, with her shy, timid, shrinking manner, more lovable than I?" she asked herself, incredulously.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not only a blow of the keenest and cruelest kind to her affection, but it was the cruelest blow her vanity could possibly have received.
keenest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not only a blow of the keenest and cruelest kind to her affection, but it was the cruelest blow her vanity could possibly have received.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not only a blow of the keenest and cruelest kind to her affection, but it was the cruelest blow her vanity could possibly have received.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
lavished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
lovable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Was that simple girl, with her shy, timid, shrinking manner, more lovable than I?" she asked herself, incredulously.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Was that simple girl, with her shy, timid, shrinking manner, more lovable than I?" she asked herself, incredulously.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Was that simple girl, with her shy, timid, shrinking manner, more lovable than I?" she asked herself, incredulously.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not only a blow of the keenest and cruelest kind to her affection, but it was the cruelest blow her vanity could possibly have received.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
penning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
petted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
Pluma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
possibly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not only a blow of the keenest and cruelest kind to her affection, but it was the cruelest blow her vanity could possibly have received.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not only a blow of the keenest and cruelest kind to her affection, but it was the cruelest blow her vanity could possibly have received.
restlessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
Rex
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
scorenounUS /score/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
shrinking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Was that simple girl, with her shy, timid, shrinking manner, more lovable than I?" she asked herself, incredulously.
shy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Was that simple girl, with her shy, timid, shrinking manner, more lovable than I?" she asked herself, incredulously.
simple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Was that simple girl, with her shy, timid, shrinking manner, more lovable than I?" she asked herself, incredulously.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
talent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "Was that simple girl, with her shy, timid, shrinking manner, more lovable than I?" she asked herself, incredulously.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
timid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Was that simple girl, with her shy, timid, shrinking manner, more lovable than I?" she asked herself, incredulously.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
truth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
vanity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not only a blow of the keenest and cruelest kind to her affection, but it was the cruelest blow her vanity could possibly have received.
walking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
wealthy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While Rex was penning his all-important letter in his room, Pluma was walking restlessly to and fro in her boudoir, conning over in her mind the events of the evening.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
win
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
wit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think that she, the wealthy, petted heiress, who counted her admirers by the score, should have tried so hard to win the love of this one man and have failed; that her beauty, her grace, her wit, and her talent had been lavished upon him, and lavished in vain.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Rex had asked her to be his wife, but she stood face to face with the truth at last--he did not love her.
