Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
ANCIENTadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
curiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
darkening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.
depends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
dim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.
elms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.
emotions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
exaggerated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
GALLERY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
governess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
growing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
Jimbo's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.
largely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
magic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
mattress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
measurement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
MEMORIESnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/
Recollections of past events.
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.
OutsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
periods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
quickly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.
standard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
stars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
succession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
swiftly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The darkness came down very swiftly, and it was night almost before he knew it.
test
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon had passed away like magic, and the governess still left him alone; he could not quite understand why she went away for such long periods.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may have been because he had no standard of memory by which to test the succession of minutes; but, whatever it was, the hours passed very quickly, and the evening shadows were already darkening the room when at length he got up from the mattress and went over to the window.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE GALLERY OF ANCIENT MEMORIES With every one, of course, the measurement of time depends largely upon the state of the emotions, but in Jimbo's case it was curiously exaggerated.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Outside the high elms were growing dim; soon the stars would be out in the sky.
