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 “Madame----” “Quick! not a word!” she cried, darting into her dressing-room for a necklace.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Their crimes are paltry,” said Eugene to himself.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
chin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
criednounUS /cried/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Madame----” “Quick! not a word!” she cried, darting into her dressing-room for a necklace.
crimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Their crimes are paltry,” said Eugene to himself.
darting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Madame----” “Quick! not a word!” she cried, darting into her dressing-room for a necklace.
dispirited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went to his rooms and dressed, sad, thoughtful, and dispirited.
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went to his rooms and dressed, sad, thoughtful, and dispirited.
dressing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Madame----” “Quick! not a word!” she cried, darting into her dressing-room for a necklace.
elegant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
Eugene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Madame----” “Quick! not a word!” she cried, darting into her dressing-room for a necklace.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He went to his rooms and dressed, sad, thoughtful, and dispirited.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Madame----” “Quick! not a word!” she cried, darting into her dressing-room for a necklace.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “Their crimes are paltry,” said Eugene to himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He went to his rooms and dressed, sad, thoughtful, and dispirited.
horror-strickenadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrər ˌstrɪkən/
suddenly filled with extreme fear
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
hurrying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “Madame----” “Quick! not a word!” she cried, darting into her dressing-room for a necklace.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Madame----” “Quick! not a word!” she cried, darting into her dressing-room for a necklace.
mire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
Monsieur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
mud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
necklace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Madame----” “Quick! not a word!” she cried, darting into her dressing-room for a necklace.
needs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Madame----” “Quick! not a word!” she cried, darting into her dressing-room for a necklace.
ocean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
paltry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Their crimes are paltry,” said Eugene to himself.
Paris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
parricide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
Quick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Madame----” “Quick! not a word!” she cried, darting into her dressing-room for a necklace.
resist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went to his rooms and dressed, sad, thoughtful, and dispirited.
sad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went to his rooms and dressed, sad, thoughtful, and dispirited.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Madame----” “Quick! not a word!” she cried, darting into her dressing-room for a necklace.
sink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “Their crimes are paltry,” said Eugene to himself.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
Therese
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
thoughtful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went to his rooms and dressed, sad, thoughtful, and dispirited.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
vex
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He went to his rooms and dressed, sad, thoughtful, and dispirited.
whoever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Madame----” “Quick! not a word!” she cried, darting into her dressing-room for a necklace.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world of Paris was like an ocean of mud for him just then; and it seemed that whoever set foot in that black mire must needs sink into it up to the chin.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Do go, Monsieur Eugene, or you will vex madame,” said Therese, hurrying him away; and Eugene was too horror-stricken by this elegant parricide to resist.
