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 However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
attend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Happily for me there was no longer required to be in waiting, but was free to finish his education.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
beloved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading It was well that I had her to attend to, or my home would have seemed very desolate to me, empty as it now was of my brother and sister, and with my mother spending her time between her Queen and her favourite convent.
brother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Happily for me there was no longer required to be in waiting, but was free to finish his education.
cared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
Cecile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
convent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was well that I had her to attend to, or my home would have seemed very desolate to me, empty as it now was of my brother and sister, and with my mother spending her time between her Queen and her favourite convent.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
creaturenounUS /ˈcreature/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
crisis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
danger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
desolate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was well that I had her to attend to, or my home would have seemed very desolate to me, empty as it now was of my brother and sister, and with my mother spending her time between her Queen and her favourite convent.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
education
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Happily for me there was no longer required to be in waiting, but was free to finish his education.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was well that I had her to attend to, or my home would have seemed very desolate to me, empty as it now was of my brother and sister, and with my mother spending her time between her Queen and her favourite convent.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
favourite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was well that I had her to attend to, or my home would have seemed very desolate to me, empty as it now was of my brother and sister, and with my mother spending her time between her Queen and her favourite convent.
finish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Happily for me there was no longer required to be in waiting, but was free to finish his education.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
frail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading Happily for me there was no longer required to be in waiting, but was free to finish his education.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
Happily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Happily for me there was no longer required to be in waiting, but was free to finish his education.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was well that I had her to attend to, or my home would have seemed very desolate to me, empty as it now was of my brother and sister, and with my mother spending her time between her Queen and her favourite convent.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Happily for me there was no longer required to be in waiting, but was free to finish his education.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was well that I had her to attend to, or my home would have seemed very desolate to me, empty as it now was of my brother and sister, and with my mother spending her time between her Queen and her favourite convent.
HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
ill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Happily for me there was no longer required to be in waiting, but was free to finish his education.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
meaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
missing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was well that I had her to attend to, or my home would have seemed very desolate to me, empty as it now was of my brother and sister, and with my mother spending her time between her Queen and her favourite convent.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Happily for me there was no longer required to be in waiting, but was free to finish his education.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was well that I had her to attend to, or my home would have seemed very desolate to me, empty as it now was of my brother and sister, and with my mother spending her time between her Queen and her favourite convent.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was well that I had her to attend to, or my home would have seemed very desolate to me, empty as it now was of my brother and sister, and with my mother spending her time between her Queen and her favourite convent.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
pray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
Queen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was well that I had her to attend to, or my home would have seemed very desolate to me, empty as it now was of my brother and sister, and with my mother spending her time between her Queen and her favourite convent.
renewed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
requirednounUS /required/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Happily for me there was no longer required to be in waiting, but was free to finish his education.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
soul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
spendingnounUS /ˈspending/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was well that I had her to attend to, or my home would have seemed very desolate to me, empty as it now was of my brother and sister, and with my mother spending her time between her Queen and her favourite convent.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Happily for me there was no longer required to be in waiting, but was free to finish his education.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was well that I had her to attend to, or my home would have seemed very desolate to me, empty as it now was of my brother and sister, and with my mother spending her time between her Queen and her favourite convent.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Happily for me there was no longer required to be in waiting, but was free to finish his education.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
wedded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was well that I had her to attend to, or my home would have seemed very desolate to me, empty as it now was of my brother and sister, and with my mother spending her time between her Queen and her favourite convent.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading My poor Cecile was still so ill that I could hardly attend to anything else, and when I returned in the morning I found that, missing me, she had fallen into another crisis, and that all the danger was renewed.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading However, the poor frail creature lived, little as she cared to do so, except to pray for the soul of the husband to whom her whole being had been given, ever since they had wedded her to him as a mere child.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It seemed as if I had scarcely time to understand what was the meaning of my party with my beloved brother and sister.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was well that I had her to attend to, or my home would have seemed very desolate to me, empty as it now was of my brother and sister, and with my mother spending her time between her Queen and her favourite convent.