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, who had been so exacting as a friend, was not in any way exacting as a wife.
absolute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
accord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
amusing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She, who had been so exacting as a friend, was not in any way exacting as a wife.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She, who had been so exacting as a friend, was not in any way exacting as a wife.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She, who had been so exacting as a friend, was not in any way exacting as a wife.
Belleville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
belonged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
bourgeois
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
breadth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
considered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
deny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
despotic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She might have been the most despotic of mistresses: she was the most lenient of wives.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
disdain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
exacting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She, who had been so exacting as a friend, was not in any way exacting as a wife.
exercised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
fit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
freedom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She, who had been so exacting as a friend, was not in any way exacting as a wife.
generosity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She, who had been so exacting as a friend, was not in any way exacting as a wife.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She, who had been so exacting as a friend, was not in any way exacting as a wife.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
lenient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She might have been the most despotic of mistresses: she was the most lenient of wives.
lesser
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
lives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
mass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She might have been the most despotic of mistresses: she was the most lenient of wives.
minds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
mistresses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She might have been the most despotic of mistresses: she was the most lenient of wives.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She might have been the most despotic of mistresses: she was the most lenient of wives.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She, who had been so exacting as a friend, was not in any way exacting as a wife.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
ordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
proportion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
ridiculous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She, who had been so exacting as a friend, was not in any way exacting as a wife.
shopkeepers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She, who had been so exacting as a friend, was not in any way exacting as a wife.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
stoop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
theirspronounUS /ðerz/
the one or ones belonging to them
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
Tyranny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She, who had been so exacting as a friend, was not in any way exacting as a wife.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She, who had been so exacting as a friend, was not in any way exacting as a wife.
ways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
weaknesses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Tyranny, which would have seemed, did still seem, to her natural and amusing when used over lives which in no way belonged to her, would have appeared to her _bourgeois_ and ridiculous exercised over her husband: that sort of thing was only fit for two shopkeepers of Belleville.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading She, who had been so exacting as a friend, was not in any way exacting as a wife.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She, who had been so exacting as a friend, was not in any way exacting as a wife.
wives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She might have been the most despotic of mistresses: she was the most lenient of wives.
womanhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held the whole ordinary mass of womanhood in too absolute a disdain for her ever to stoop to the same ways and weaknesses as theirs.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There were a generosity and a breadth of thought in her, which made her accord freedom in proportion to what lesser minds would have considered her right to deny it.
