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 If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
accorded
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From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
affairs
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From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
aloud
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From this reading One of these indulgences was that something was now and then read aloud to them as they worked.
also
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From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
business
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From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
calling
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From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
ceased
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From this reading Miss Jean herself had ceased to do much in the ordinary conduct of business.
certain
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From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
conduct
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From this reading Miss Jean herself had ceased to do much in the ordinary conduct of business.
days
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From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
dressmakers
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From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
excitement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Miss Jean herself had ceased to do much in the ordinary conduct of business.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
indulgences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
inspectors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
Jean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
like
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From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
masters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
mistresses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
monotony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these indulgences was that something was now and then read aloud to them as they worked.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of these indulgences was that something was now and then read aloud to them as they worked.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
ordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Jean herself had ceased to do much in the ordinary conduct of business.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
prolonged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these indulgences was that something was now and then read aloud to them as they worked.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
Scotland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading One of these indulgences was that something was now and then read aloud to them as they worked.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these indulgences was that something was now and then read aloud to them as they worked.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading One of these indulgences was that something was now and then read aloud to them as they worked.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One of these indulgences was that something was now and then read aloud to them as they worked.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
throng
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
unpleasing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
urgent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
vigil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these indulgences was that something was now and then read aloud to them as they worked.
workroom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
workrooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no inspectors to look after the workrooms of the dressmakers in those days, but perhaps also, at least with mistresses like Miss Jean, there was little need for them.
workwomen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head of the house sat up too, there were little indulgences accorded, and when the vigil was not too much prolonged, there was a certain excitement about it which was not unpleasing to the workwomen in the monotony of their calling.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the young women in the workroom had sometimes to work for a part of the night it was only what at that time everybody was supposed to do in their own affairs or in their masters’, when business was very urgent, or _throng_ as was said in Scotland.
