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 Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But with Mme Boche all would go smoothly.
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
April
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The day the lease was to be signed and Gervaise stood in her new home her heart swelled with joy.
Boche
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But with Mme Boche all would go smoothly.
comfortably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
concierge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
corridors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was finally to live in that house like a small town, with its intersecting corridors instead of streets.
couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/
two people or things considered together
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day the lease was to be signed and Gervaise stood in her new home her heart swelled with joy.
de
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
dreaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
drop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
finally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was finally to live in that house like a small town, with its intersecting corridors instead of streets.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
Gervaise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But with Mme Boche all would go smoothly.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
Goutte-d'Or
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day the lease was to be signed and Gervaise stood in her new home her heart swelled with joy.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The day the lease was to be signed and Gervaise stood in her new home her heart swelled with joy.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day the lease was to be signed and Gervaise stood in her new home her heart swelled with joy.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was finally to live in that house like a small town, with its intersecting corridors instead of streets.
intersecting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was finally to live in that house like a small town, with its intersecting corridors instead of streets.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading She was finally to live in that house like a small town, with its intersecting corridors instead of streets.
joy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day the lease was to be signed and Gervaise stood in her new home her heart swelled with joy.
la
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
lease
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day the lease was to be signed and Gervaise stood in her new home her heart swelled with joy.
lestconjunctionUS /lest/
in order that something should not happen
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was finally to live in that house like a small town, with its intersecting corridors instead of streets.
loge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
Mme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But with Mme Boche all would go smoothly.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
Neuve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day the lease was to be signed and Gervaise stood in her new home her heart swelled with joy.
nicely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
power
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
quarrelnounUS /ˈkwɔːrəl/
an angry argument or disagreement
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
Rue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
signed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day the lease was to be signed and Gervaise stood in her new home her heart swelled with joy.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was finally to live in that house like a small town, with its intersecting corridors instead of streets.
smoothly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But with Mme Boche all would go smoothly.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
spilled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The day the lease was to be signed and Gervaise stood in her new home her heart swelled with joy.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was finally to live in that house like a small town, with its intersecting corridors instead of streets.
swelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day the lease was to be signed and Gervaise stood in her new home her heart swelled with joy.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
Things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The day the lease was to be signed and Gervaise stood in her new home her heart swelled with joy.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Boche couple, on the first of April, moved also and took the loge of the great house in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was finally to live in that house like a small town, with its intersecting corridors instead of streets.
trifles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
tyrant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Things had turned out very nicely for Gervaise who, having always got on very comfortably with the concierge in the house in Rue Neuve, dreaded lest she should fall into the power of some tyrant who would quarrel over every drop of water that was spilled and a thousand other trifles like that.
