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 He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
afraid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sight of her handwriting paled his brown face and set his stout heart fluttering.
baby's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
beforehand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
breakfast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of her handwriting paled his brown face and set his stout heart fluttering.
caretaker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
convinced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
Creeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He mentioned it next day, however.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading What did she want of him?
dread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of her handwriting paled his brown face and set his stout heart fluttering.
Five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
flutteringverbUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
moving with quick light beats or trembles
From this reading The sight of her handwriting paled his brown face and set his stout heart fluttering.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
forwarded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
handwriting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of her handwriting paled his brown face and set his stout heart fluttering.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He mentioned it next day, however.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of her handwriting paled his brown face and set his stout heart fluttering.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The sight of her handwriting paled his brown face and set his stout heart fluttering.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The sight of her handwriting paled his brown face and set his stout heart fluttering.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He mentioned it next day, however.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He mentioned it next day, however.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
mentioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He mentioned it next day, however.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He mentioned it next day, however.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
paid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
paled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of her handwriting paled his brown face and set his stout heart fluttering.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of her handwriting paled his brown face and set his stout heart fluttering.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What did she want of him?
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of her handwriting paled his brown face and set his stout heart fluttering.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
stout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sight of her handwriting paled his brown face and set his stout heart fluttering.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
undignified
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
unopened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did she want of him?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He kept the letter unopened for some time, because he was afraid to know, although convinced beforehand that he did know--that, of course, it was the visit he should have paid before coming up country.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What did she want of him?
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had to; for after breakfast a letter, forwarded from Five Creeks, reached him from the baby's caretaker--the lady of whom he stood in such undignified dread.
