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 She took immediate counsel with May; she had fires lighted in half a dozen bed-chambers.
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
adamantine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
additional
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
bed-chambers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She took immediate counsel with May; she had fires lighted in half a dozen bed-chambers.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
Brig
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
candles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
Canlemas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
climax
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Mrs. Ross did something more wonderful than all this--the very climax and copestone of her unwonted melting of heart.
concerns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
copestone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Mrs. Ross did something more wonderful than all this--the very climax and copestone of her unwonted melting of heart.
counsel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She took immediate counsel with May; she had fires lighted in half a dozen bed-chambers.
court
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
decent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Then Mrs. Ross did something more wonderful than all this--the very climax and copestone of her unwonted melting of heart.
dozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She took immediate counsel with May; she had fires lighted in half a dozen bed-chambers.
Duncan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
eliding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
fires
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She took immediate counsel with May; she had fires lighted in half a dozen bed-chambers.
folk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
frae
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
grate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
grumble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She took immediate counsel with May; she had fires lighted in half a dozen bed-chambers.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
immediate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She took immediate counsel with May; she had fires lighted in half a dozen bed-chambers.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She took immediate counsel with May; she had fires lighted in half a dozen bed-chambers.
inspired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
involuntary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
lighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She took immediate counsel with May; she had fires lighted in half a dozen bed-chambers.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading She took immediate counsel with May; she had fires lighted in half a dozen bed-chambers.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
meltingnounUS /ˈmelting/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Then Mrs. Ross did something more wonderful than all this--the very climax and copestone of her unwonted melting of heart.
metaphysicians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Mrs. Ross did something more wonderful than all this--the very climax and copestone of her unwonted melting of heart.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
Oran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
paid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
an old-fashioned sitting room
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
radiantadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdiənt/
shining brightly
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
Ross
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
softened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Then Mrs. Ross did something more wonderful than all this--the very climax and copestone of her unwonted melting of heart.
specify
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
sufficiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Then Mrs. Ross did something more wonderful than all this--the very climax and copestone of her unwonted melting of heart.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She took immediate counsel with May; she had fires lighted in half a dozen bed-chambers.
unwonted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Mrs. Ross did something more wonderful than all this--the very climax and copestone of her unwonted melting of heart.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It might be that all the court that had been paid to her of late had softened the adamantine heart: it only concerns us to know that softened it was.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Mrs. Ross did something more wonderful than all this--the very climax and copestone of her unwonted melting of heart.
wainscotted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the wainscotted parlor was made radiant--a fire in its grate "enough," as Duncan said with an involuntary grumble, "to keep the decent folk at the Brig of Oran in eliding frae this till Canlemas"--and additional candles upon its table.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Mrs. Ross was inspired--how or by what means we are not sufficiently good metaphysicians to be able to specify--but inspired she was!
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She took immediate counsel with May; she had fires lighted in half a dozen bed-chambers.
wonderfulnounUS /ˈwonderful/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Then Mrs. Ross did something more wonderful than all this--the very climax and copestone of her unwonted melting of heart.
