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 Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She is so slow," Will Sanford once said, "that she always looks solemn at a wedding, because the grief of the last funeral has just got into her face.
any
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From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
appearing
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From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mrs. Brown was a miracle of tardiness,--the last-comer at every gathering, the last guest to depart.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading "She is so slow," Will Sanford once said, "that she always looks solemn at a wedding, because the grief of the last funeral has just got into her face.
behindhand
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From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
Brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
chosen
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From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
clean
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From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
concerned
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From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
confusion
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From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
conversing
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From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
depart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Brown was a miracle of tardiness,--the last-comer at every gathering, the last guest to depart.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Mrs. Brown was a miracle of tardiness,--the last-comer at every gathering, the last guest to depart.
exacting
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From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
expectingverbUS /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/
thinking that somebody or something will arrive
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She is so slow," Will Sanford once said, "that she always looks solemn at a wedding, because the grief of the last funeral has just got into her face.
fixed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
frowsy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
funeral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She is so slow," Will Sanford once said, "that she always looks solemn at a wedding, because the grief of the last funeral has just got into her face.
gathering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Brown was a miracle of tardiness,--the last-comer at every gathering, the last guest to depart.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She is so slow," Will Sanford once said, "that she always looks solemn at a wedding, because the grief of the last funeral has just got into her face.
grief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She is so slow," Will Sanford once said, "that she always looks solemn at a wedding, because the grief of the last funeral has just got into her face.
guest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Brown was a miracle of tardiness,--the last-comer at every gathering, the last guest to depart.
habit
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From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "She is so slow," Will Sanford once said, "that she always looks solemn at a wedding, because the grief of the last funeral has just got into her face.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
house-keeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
Indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "She is so slow," Will Sanford once said, "that she always looks solemn at a wedding, because the grief of the last funeral has just got into her face.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She is so slow," Will Sanford once said, "that she always looks solemn at a wedding, because the grief of the last funeral has just got into her face.
justice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Brown was a miracle of tardiness,--the last-comer at every gathering, the last guest to depart.
last-comer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Brown was a miracle of tardiness,--the last-comer at every gathering, the last guest to depart.
looks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She is so slow," Will Sanford once said, "that she always looks solemn at a wedding, because the grief of the last funeral has just got into her face.
method
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
miracle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Brown was a miracle of tardiness,--the last-comer at every gathering, the last guest to depart.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
neighbor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
offence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
order-loving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
perennial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
PICNIC
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PICNIC.
plan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She is so slow," Will Sanford once said, "that she always looks solemn at a wedding, because the grief of the last funeral has just got into her face.
Sanford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
Seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
slow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She is so slow," Will Sanford once said, "that she always looks solemn at a wedding, because the grief of the last funeral has just got into her face.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
solemn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She is so slow," Will Sanford once said, "that she always looks solemn at a wedding, because the grief of the last funeral has just got into her face.
source
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
stone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
surer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
tardiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Brown was a miracle of tardiness,--the last-comer at every gathering, the last guest to depart.
tasteverbUS /teɪst/
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PICNIC.
throwing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
wedding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She is so slow," Will Sanford once said, "that she always looks solemn at a wedding, because the grief of the last funeral has just got into her face.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
wherein
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, so fixed were her friends in the habit of expecting her to be behindhand, that she could have chosen no surer method of throwing into confusion any plan wherein she was concerned than by appearing for once on time; which, to do her justice, she never did.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
Willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "She is so slow," Will Sanford once said, "that she always looks solemn at a wedding, because the grief of the last funeral has just got into her face.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Seated upon a stone which happened to be clean enough for even her exacting taste, Mrs. Sanford was conversing with Mrs. Brown, a frowsy lady whose house-keeping was a perennial source of offence to her order-loving neighbor.
