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 In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
anxiety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
authority
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
bluster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
boisterous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading It was her first "place"; and by "nonsense" they both understood imagination.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was her first "place"; and by "nonsense" they both understood imagination.
Colonel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
Colonel's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
COMES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
conversation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
deemed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
devoid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
eagerly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was her first "place"; and by "nonsense" they both understood imagination.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
GOES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
governess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
imagination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was her first "place"; and by "nonsense" they both understood imagination.
imaginative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
insight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
instructions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
Jimbo's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
judgment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
knock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
LAKE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
MISS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
mistake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was her first mistake.
mistook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
nonsense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
obey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
overborne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
permitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
promised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
prove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
reality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
soldier's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
success
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In reality she was not devoid of imaginative insight; it was simply that her anxiety to prove a success permitted her better judgment to be overborne by the Colonel's boisterous manner.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was her first "place"; and by "nonsense" they both understood imagination.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was her first mistake.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
treatment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
True
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True enough, Jimbo's mother had given her rather different instructions as to the treatment of the boy, but she mistook the soldier's bluster for authority, and deemed it best to obey him.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
understood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was her first "place"; and by "nonsense" they both understood imagination.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was her first "place"; and by "nonsense" they both understood imagination.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading MISS LAKE COMES--AND GOES The conversation took place suddenly one afternoon, and no one knew anything about it except the two who took part in it: the Colonel asked the governess to try and knock the nonsense out of Jimbo's head, and the governess promised eagerly to do her very best.
