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 It was a little business-room, but the business in it was chiefly feminine.
advice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
ask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
awaiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
baskets
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From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
Bellendean
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From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a little business-room, but the business in it was chiefly feminine.
business-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a little business-room, but the business in it was chiefly feminine.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a little business-room, but the business in it was chiefly feminine.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
came
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From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
chair
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From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
chiefly
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From this reading It was a little business-room, but the business in it was chiefly feminine.
close
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From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
closely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
counselled
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From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
covers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
defendant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
dependants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
feminine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a little business-room, but the business in it was chiefly feminine.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
formidable-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
homely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a little business-room, but the business in it was chiefly feminine.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
interviewed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a little business-room, but the business in it was chiefly feminine.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
landscapes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
library
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a little business-room, but the business in it was chiefly feminine.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
neighbours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
paraphernalia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
parish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
poorer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
reproved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
respondent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
retainers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
shelvesnounUS /ʃelvz/
Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
shrubbery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
sternness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
Sunday-school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
surrounding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
takes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a little business-room, but the business in it was chiefly feminine.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
transacted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
vanities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a little business-room, but the business in it was chiefly feminine.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
whoever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was the room in which Mrs. Bellendean interviewed those of her dependants or retainers who came to ask her advice, or whom she sent for to be reproved or counselled.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The windows looked into a closely surrounding shrubbery, which shut out the view--as if landscapes and such vanities had nothing to do with the sternness of the business transacted here.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were baskets of work, shelves full of books in homely covers, a parish or Sunday-school library, and all the paraphernalia of a country lady who ‘takes an interest’ in her poorer neighbours.
writing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her own chair stood in front of a formidable-looking writing-table, and one other stood close by, awaiting the respondent or defendant, whoever he or she might be.
