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 Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
anticipated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I don't like to exhibit my wardrobe as if I were a dressmaker, or a society woman who is hard up and trying to dispose of them.”
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
bent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
chamber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
chattering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
color
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, I think that would look so vain and silly in me,” Helen protested, her color rising.
cousin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
dispose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don't like to exhibit my wardrobe as if I were a dressmaker, or a society woman who is hard up and trying to dispose of them.”
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
doves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
down-stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
dressmaker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don't like to exhibit my wardrobe as if I were a dressmaker, or a society woman who is hard up and trying to dispose of them.”
exhibit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don't like to exhibit my wardrobe as if I were a dressmaker, or a society woman who is hard up and trying to dispose of them.”
flutteringverbUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
moving with quick light beats or trembles
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
formally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
former
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don't like to exhibit my wardrobe as if I were a dressmaker, or a society woman who is hard up and trying to dispose of them.”
Helen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
Helen's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Oh, I think that would look so vain and silly in me,” Helen protested, her color rising.
Ida
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
intimate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I don't like to exhibit my wardrobe as if I were a dressmaker, or a society woman who is hard up and trying to dispose of them.”
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
ladies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
laughed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Oh, I think that would look so vain and silly in me,” Helen protested, her color rising.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Oh, I think that would look so vain and silly in me,” Helen protested, her color rising.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I don't like to exhibit my wardrobe as if I were a dressmaker, or a society woman who is hard up and trying to dispose of them.”
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
Oh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, I think that would look so vain and silly in me,” Helen protested, her color rising.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “I don't like to exhibit my wardrobe as if I were a dressmaker, or a society woman who is hard up and trying to dispose of them.”
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
an old-fashioned sitting room
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
plumage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
protested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, I think that would look so vain and silly in me,” Helen protested, her color rising.
putting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
reception
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
rising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, I think that would look so vain and silly in me,” Helen protested, her color rising.
school-mates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
silly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, I think that would look so vain and silly in me,” Helen protested, her color rising.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Oh, I think that would look so vain and silly in me,” Helen protested, her color rising.
society
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don't like to exhibit my wardrobe as if I were a dressmaker, or a society woman who is hard up and trying to dispose of them.”
spend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
Tarpley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Oh, I think that would look so vain and silly in me,” Helen protested, her color rising.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don't like to exhibit my wardrobe as if I were a dressmaker, or a society woman who is hard up and trying to dispose of them.”
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don't like to exhibit my wardrobe as if I were a dressmaker, or a society woman who is hard up and trying to dispose of them.”
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, I think that would look so vain and silly in me,” Helen protested, her color rising.
wardrobe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don't like to exhibit my wardrobe as if I were a dressmaker, or a society woman who is hard up and trying to dispose of them.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The reception formally opened in the great parlor down-stairs, but it was not many minutes before they all found themselves in Helen's chamber fluttering about and chattering like doves in their spring plumage.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “I don't like to exhibit my wardrobe as if I were a dressmaker, or a society woman who is hard up and trying to dispose of them.”
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading “I don't like to exhibit my wardrobe as if I were a dressmaker, or a society woman who is hard up and trying to dispose of them.”
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don't like to exhibit my wardrobe as if I were a dressmaker, or a society woman who is hard up and trying to dispose of them.”
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Oh, I think that would look so vain and silly in me,” Helen protested, her color rising.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen anticipated, the young ladies of the town, her most intimate friends and former school-mates, came in a body that afternoon to see her.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “There's no use putting it off longer,” Ida Tarpley, Helen's cousin, laughed; “they are all bent on seeing your _things_, and they will simply spend the night here if you don't get them out.”
