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 So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
acquainted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading ‘May I speak to you after Chatty has had her lesson?’ she asked.
air
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From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
alarmed
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From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
all
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From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
any
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From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
arranged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
arrival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘May I speak to you after Chatty has had her lesson?’ she asked.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
came
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From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
Chatty
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From this reading ‘May I speak to you after Chatty has had her lesson?’ she asked.
courtship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
crying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
day
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From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
Ellen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
evidently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
excitement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ‘May I speak to you after Chatty has had her lesson?’ she asked.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘May I speak to you after Chatty has had her lesson?’ she asked.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘May I speak to you after Chatty has had her lesson?’ she asked.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
incident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
interested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
laughing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
lesson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘May I speak to you after Chatty has had her lesson?’ she asked.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading ‘May I speak to you after Chatty has had her lesson?’ she asked.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
melancholy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘May I speak to you after Chatty has had her lesson?’ she asked.
speed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
suppressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
unusual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not, evidently, anything to be alarmed about, for she looked half way between laughing and crying, but not melancholy.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading So I arranged with all speed--not an easy thing when there are so many in a house, to be left alone, and free to hear whatever she might have to say.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I felt sure that some new incident had happened in her courtship, about which I was so much more interested than about any other courtship I was acquainted with.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading One day Ellen came to me, on her arrival, with an air of suppressed excitement quite unusual to her.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘May I speak to you after Chatty has had her lesson?’ she asked.