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 A PROPOSAL.
acknowledgment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
agitated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
anger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
arrival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
begun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
boxes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
daughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
expectation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
Harry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
House
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
ill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
immediate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
included
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
indulgent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
instantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
Joscelyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
letter-writer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
Liverpool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
pet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
PROPOSAL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PROPOSAL.
reply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
Selby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
slightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
sulky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
White
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White House had begun to be slightly agitated by the expectation of letters from Harry, when Mr. Selby came again.
willing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a great letter-writer, however, and they were both indulgent to Harry, and willing to give him a little time to get over his “pet,” as Joan called it.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Harry no doubt would be sulky; even his mother and sister would be included in his anger against the house, though they had done nothing which he ought to have taken in ill part.
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no immediate acknowledgment of the arrival of the boxes, or reply to the letter which Mrs. Joscelyn had written instantly, as soon as they heard that he had returned to Liverpool; but this both mother and daughter thought was natural enough.
