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 They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
amiable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
bigger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Katherine was a little taller, a little bigger, a little darker, than Stella.
Brenda
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From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
common
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
contrast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
conventional
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
darker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Katherine was a little taller, a little bigger, a little darker, than Stella.
dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
described
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
difference
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
distinct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
exactly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
gay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
imagination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
Katherine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Katherine was a little taller, a little bigger, a little darker, than Stella.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Katherine was a little taller, a little bigger, a little darker, than Stella.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She was three years older but was supposed to look ten.
melancholy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
Minna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
older
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was three years older but was supposed to look ten.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
Pirate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
proud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
reserved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
serious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was three years older but was supposed to look ten.
sisters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
Stella
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Katherine was a little taller, a little bigger, a little darker, than Stella.
sunny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was three years older but was supposed to look ten.
taller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Katherine was a little taller, a little bigger, a little darker, than Stella.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was three years older but was supposed to look ten.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Katherine was a little taller, a little bigger, a little darker, than Stella.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was three years older but was supposed to look ten.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
type
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
wheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/
at any time that; every time that
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was three years older but was supposed to look ten.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
