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 My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
abroad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
absolutely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.
agents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.
articled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.
boarding-school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.
clerk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
contented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
Devonshire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The out-of-door life suited me, and I did not find the work unpleasant.
DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.
Exeter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
false
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The out-of-door life suited me, and I did not find the work unpleasant.
firm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
France
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
incident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
Marian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
miserable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.
OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.
out-of-door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The out-of-door life suited me, and I did not find the work unpleasant.
recording
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
respectable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.
single
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
south
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
suited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The out-of-door life suited me, and I did not find the work unpleasant.
surveyors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
UNEXPECTED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
unpleasant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The out-of-door life suited me, and I did not find the work unpleasant.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
VISIT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Our home had been broken up, and we had left Devonshire for ever.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
Weymouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father and mother were living abroad at a small country town in the south of France, Marian was at a boarding-school at Weymouth, and I--I was articled clerk to a very respectable firm of land agents and surveyors in Exeter.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The out-of-door life suited me, and I did not find the work unpleasant.
worth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To say that I was contented would be false, but, on the other hand, I was not absolutely miserable.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISIT During the next four years of my life there happened to me not one single incident worth recording.