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 a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
acquaintances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The countess gathered around her the elite of Florentine society; she selected her friends and acquaintances as carefully as she selected her dresses, jewels, and flowers.
admitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Going into society increased the expenses which Ronald and his wife found already heavy enough.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
amusing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Going into society increased the expenses which Ronald and his wife found already heavy enough.
anxious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The countess gathered around her the elite of Florentine society; she selected her friends and acquaintances as carefully as she selected her dresses, jewels, and flowers.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The countess gathered around her the elite of Florentine society; she selected her friends and acquaintances as carefully as she selected her dresses, jewels, and flowers.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
bills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
blamednounUS /blamed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
bores
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
carefully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The countess gathered around her the elite of Florentine society; she selected her friends and acquaintances as carefully as she selected her dresses, jewels, and flowers.
charmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
circle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
clouds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
countess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The countess gathered around her the elite of Florentine society; she selected her friends and acquaintances as carefully as she selected her dresses, jewels, and flowers.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
Dora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
dresses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The countess gathered around her the elite of Florentine society; she selected her friends and acquaintances as carefully as she selected her dresses, jewels, and flowers.
elite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The countess gathered around her the elite of Florentine society; she selected her friends and acquaintances as carefully as she selected her dresses, jewels, and flowers.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going into society increased the expenses which Ronald and his wife found already heavy enough.
expenses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going into society increased the expenses which Ronald and his wife found already heavy enough.
failed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
fashionable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
Florentine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The countess gathered around her the elite of Florentine society; she selected her friends and acquaintances as carefully as she selected her dresses, jewels, and flowers.
flowers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The countess gathered around her the elite of Florentine society; she selected her friends and acquaintances as carefully as she selected her dresses, jewels, and flowers.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Going into society increased the expenses which Ronald and his wife found already heavy enough.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The countess gathered around her the elite of Florentine society; she selected her friends and acquaintances as carefully as she selected her dresses, jewels, and flowers.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
gathered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The countess gathered around her the elite of Florentine society; she selected her friends and acquaintances as carefully as she selected her dresses, jewels, and flowers.
gay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
genius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
Going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going into society increased the expenses which Ronald and his wife found already heavy enough.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going into society increased the expenses which Ronald and his wife found already heavy enough.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The countess gathered around her the elite of Florentine society; she selected her friends and acquaintances as carefully as she selected her dresses, jewels, and flowers.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Going into society increased the expenses which Ronald and his wife found already heavy enough.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
increased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going into society increased the expenses which Ronald and his wife found already heavy enough.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Going into society increased the expenses which Ronald and his wife found already heavy enough.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
jewels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The countess gathered around her the elite of Florentine society; she selected her friends and acquaintances as carefully as she selected her dresses, jewels, and flowers.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
knowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
liquidating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
lowered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
nobodies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
pictures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
piquant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
recommend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
refused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/
a feeling of comfort after worry or pain
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
Ronald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going into society increased the expenses which Ronald and his wife found already heavy enough.
sale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
seek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
selected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The countess gathered around her the elite of Florentine society; she selected her friends and acquaintances as carefully as she selected her dresses, jewels, and flowers.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The countess gathered around her the elite of Florentine society; she selected her friends and acquaintances as carefully as she selected her dresses, jewels, and flowers.
society
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going into society increased the expenses which Ronald and his wife found already heavy enough.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
talent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Going into society increased the expenses which Ronald and his wife found already heavy enough.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
villa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
wept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading There were times when the money received from the sale of his pictures failed in liquidating bills; then Ronald grew anxious, and Dora, not knowing what better to do, wept and blamed herself for all the trouble.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading It was a relief then to leave the home over which the clouds lowered and seek the gay villa, where something pleasant and amusing was always going on.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Going into society increased the expenses which Ronald and his wife found already heavy enough.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going into society increased the expenses which Ronald and his wife found already heavy enough.
wit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She refused to know "bores" and "nobodies"; her lady friends must be pretty, piquant, or fashionable, any gentleman admitted into her charmed circle must have genius, wit, or talent to recommend him.
