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 had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
account
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From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
AlasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
all
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From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
Anne
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From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
any
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From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
arm
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From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
attendance
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From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
Austria
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From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
Beautru
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From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
become
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From this reading My mother did not come home till the evening, when the streets had become tolerably quiet.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
buffoons
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From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
cabinet
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From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
Cardinal
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From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My mother did not come home till the evening, when the streets had become tolerably quiet.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
Court
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From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
damage
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From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
de
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From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
dear
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From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading My mother did not come home till the evening, when the streets had become tolerably quiet.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
Duke
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From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
effect
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From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
England
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From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
especially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother did not come home till the evening, when the streets had become tolerably quiet.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
France
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From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
friend
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From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
gentlemennounUS /gentlemen/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
give
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From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
grand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading My mother did not come home till the evening, when the streets had become tolerably quiet.
hand
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From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
haughty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
Henrietta
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From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother did not come home till the evening, when the streets had become tolerably quiet.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
impress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
laughed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
Longueville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
matter
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From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
Messieurs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
mob
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From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother did not come home till the evening, when the streets had become tolerably quiet.
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My mother did not come home till the evening, when the streets had become tolerably quiet.
Nogent
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From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading My mother did not come home till the evening, when the streets had become tolerably quiet.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
once
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From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
palace
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From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
parliament
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
proud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
Queen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
Queen-Regent
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From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother did not come home till the evening, when the streets had become tolerably quiet.
reports
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
ridicule
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
sadly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
sense
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From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
serious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
sister-in-law
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From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
smiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother did not come home till the evening, when the streets had become tolerably quiet.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading My mother did not come home till the evening, when the streets had become tolerably quiet.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
throne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading My mother did not come home till the evening, when the streets had become tolerably quiet.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
tolerably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother did not come home till the evening, when the streets had become tolerably quiet.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The Queen-Regent smiled in her haughty way, but the Queen of England laid her hand sadly on my mother’s arm and said, ‘Alas, my dear friend, was it not thus that once we laughed?’
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Queen Anne of Austria was too proud to believe that a parliament and a mob could do any damage to the throne of France, whatever they might effect in England.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading My mother did not come home till the evening, when the streets had become tolerably quiet.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had a strange account to give, for she had been at the palace all the time in attendance on Queen Henrietta, who tried in vain to impress her sister-in-law with a sense that the matter was serious.
wits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There she sat in her grand cabinet, and with her were the Cardinal, the Duke of Longueville, and many other gentlemen, especially Messieurs de Nogent and de Beautru, who were the wits, if not the buffoons of the Court, and who turned all the reports they heard into ridicule.
