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 The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
all
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From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The road to Paris was more than an hundred leagues.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
armed
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From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
beautiful
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From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
befall
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From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
begun
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From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
beset
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From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
Castile
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From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
Castilian
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From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
castle
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From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
chief
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From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
company
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From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
concern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
creep
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From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
curtain
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From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
dangers
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From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
day
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From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
designs
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From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
difficult
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From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
down
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From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
embassy
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From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
expedition
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From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
forth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
gave
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From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
host
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road to Paris was more than an hundred leagues.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
jealous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
King
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
leagues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road to Paris was more than an hundred leagues.
Louis
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From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
madam's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
midsummer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
ministers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
mistress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road to Paris was more than an hundred leagues.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
noble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
OURdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
ourspronounUS /ˈaʊərz/
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
PARIS
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From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
particularly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
peril
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
ROAD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
rode
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
scarceadjectiveUS /skɛrs/
hard to find or in short supply
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
servants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
speed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
steep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The road to Paris was more than an hundred leagues.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
thwarted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As we took the road our chief concern was to come to King Louis at Paris with all expedition, and to return again with all the speed possible in the company of an armed host, that the designs of the Castilian might be thwarted.
tracknounUS /træk/
a route or signs showing the way someone went
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
traveller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The road to Paris was more than an hundred leagues.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OF OUR ROAD TO PARIS THE sun had scarce begun to creep from behind his white curtain when, on the following day, madam’s three ministers set forth on their embassy.
winding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The first part of it lay through the very heart of Castile; much of it was difficult and beset with peril for the traveller, and particularly for those upon such a service as ours.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet upon this beautiful morning of midsummer, as we rode forth from the castle down the steep winding track, these jealous servants of a noble mistress gave not a thought to the dangers that might befall.
