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 A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
absolutely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Helen Warren had been sitting that warm afternoon in the big bay-window of the parlor.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
appealing
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From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
asking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
assure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
bay-window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen Warren had been sitting that warm afternoon in the big bay-window of the parlor.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Helen Warren had been sitting that warm afternoon in the big bay-window of the parlor.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen Warren had been sitting that warm afternoon in the big bay-window of the parlor.
breeze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
bringing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading WEEK went by.
color
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
concerned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
confided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
considerably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
cooling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
curtains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
disturbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
expressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
fanned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
fate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
flatly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
greatly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Helen Warren had been sitting that warm afternoon in the big bay-window of the parlor.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
Helen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen Warren had been sitting that warm afternoon in the big bay-window of the parlor.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
hoping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Helen Warren had been sitting that warm afternoon in the big bay-window of the parlor.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
inward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
lace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
loved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
matters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Helen Warren had been sitting that warm afternoon in the big bay-window of the parlor.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
an old-fashioned sitting room
From this reading Helen Warren had been sitting that warm afternoon in the big bay-window of the parlor.
perfume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
permitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
positively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
refusal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
revealing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
rose-bushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
Sanders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen Warren had been sitting that warm afternoon in the big bay-window of the parlor.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Helen Warren had been sitting that warm afternoon in the big bay-window of the parlor.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Helen Warren had been sitting that warm afternoon in the big bay-window of the parlor.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
ultimate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
warm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen Warren had been sitting that warm afternoon in the big bay-window of the parlor.
Warren
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen Warren had been sitting that warm afternoon in the big bay-window of the parlor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
wealth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cooling breeze fanned the old lace curtains inward, bringing the perfume of the the garden and now and then revealing a wealth of color on the rose-bushes near by.
WEEK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WEEK went by.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WEEK went by.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
win
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
worry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just read an appealing letter from Sanders in which he had expressed himself as having been so disturbed by her refusal to assure him positively of what his ultimate fate was to be that he had permitted himself to worry considerably.
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So greatly concerned, indeed, was he that he had confided in his mother, who, he wrote, had made matters worse by asking him flatly if he was absolutely sure that he was loved in the one and only way a man should be loved by the woman he was hoping to win for his wife.
