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 And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
absolutely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
address
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.
amused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
battle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.
brutal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
charlatans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
Constance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
consulting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
courage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.
decisive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
despair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
effort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.
fainted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.
flat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
Gaude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.
grief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
jesting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
loneliness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.
profound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
recovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.
robbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.
seized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
self-possession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.
surprisednounUS /surprised/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
truth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
useless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
utterednounUS /ˈuttered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
welcome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She almost fainted on the stairs as she left his flat, and for a moment indeed death seemed welcome.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading But by a great effort of will she recovered self-possession, the courage to face the life of loneliness that now lay before her.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Gaude uttered those decisive words in a light, jesting way, as though surprised and amused by her profound grief.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He told her the brutal truth; it was useless for her to address herself to charlatans; she would simply be robbed by them; there was absolutely no hope for her.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly two years did Constance battle, and at last in despair she was seized with the idea of consulting Dr. Gaude.