Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The boarders assisted vicariously at weddings and wedding receptions, afternoon teas and dances, given in halls.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “Up-town” seemed to them largely given to entertainment and hilarity of an enviably prodigal sort.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had stories to tell, festivities to describe, and cheerful incidents to recount.
assisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boarders assisted vicariously at weddings and wedding receptions, afternoon teas and dances, given in halls.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The boarders assisted vicariously at weddings and wedding receptions, afternoon teas and dances, given in halls.
ball-dresses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
banquets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's boarding-house began to be even better pleased with him than before.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's boarding-house began to be even better pleased with him than before.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's boarding-house began to be even better pleased with him than before.
better
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From this reading Mrs. Bowse's boarding-house began to be even better pleased with him than before.
boarders
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From this reading The boarders assisted vicariously at weddings and wedding receptions, afternoon teas and dances, given in halls.
boarding-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's boarding-house began to be even better pleased with him than before.
Bowse's
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From this reading Mrs. Bowse's boarding-house began to be even better pleased with him than before.
cheerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had stories to tell, festivities to describe, and cheerful incidents to recount.
class
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
conversation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
dances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boarders assisted vicariously at weddings and wedding receptions, afternoon teas and dances, given in halls.
describe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had stories to tell, festivities to describe, and cheerful incidents to recount.
detailsnounUS /ˈdetails/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
entertained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
entertainment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Up-town” seemed to them largely given to entertainment and hilarity of an enviably prodigal sort.
entertains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
enviably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Up-town” seemed to them largely given to entertainment and hilarity of an enviably prodigal sort.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's boarding-house began to be even better pleased with him than before.
festivities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had stories to tell, festivities to describe, and cheerful incidents to recount.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boarders assisted vicariously at weddings and wedding receptions, afternoon teas and dances, given in halls.
guests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had stories to tell, festivities to describe, and cheerful incidents to recount.
halls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boarders assisted vicariously at weddings and wedding receptions, afternoon teas and dances, given in halls.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had stories to tell, festivities to describe, and cheerful incidents to recount.
hilarity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Up-town” seemed to them largely given to entertainment and hilarity of an enviably prodigal sort.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's boarding-house began to be even better pleased with him than before.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The boarders assisted vicariously at weddings and wedding receptions, afternoon teas and dances, given in halls.
incidents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had stories to tell, festivities to describe, and cheerful incidents to recount.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
largely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Up-town” seemed to them largely given to entertainment and hilarity of an enviably prodigal sort.
material
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
money-spending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's boarding-house began to be even better pleased with him than before.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Up-town” seemed to them largely given to entertainment and hilarity of an enviably prodigal sort.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
pleasednounUS /ˈpleased/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's boarding-house began to be even better pleased with him than before.
prodigal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Up-town” seemed to them largely given to entertainment and hilarity of an enviably prodigal sort.
receptions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boarders assisted vicariously at weddings and wedding receptions, afternoon teas and dances, given in halls.
recount
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had stories to tell, festivities to describe, and cheerful incidents to recount.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Up-town” seemed to them largely given to entertainment and hilarity of an enviably prodigal sort.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Up-town” seemed to them largely given to entertainment and hilarity of an enviably prodigal sort.
stories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had stories to tell, festivities to describe, and cheerful incidents to recount.
teas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boarders assisted vicariously at weddings and wedding receptions, afternoon teas and dances, given in halls.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had stories to tell, festivities to describe, and cheerful incidents to recount.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's boarding-house began to be even better pleased with him than before.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The boarders assisted vicariously at weddings and wedding receptions, afternoon teas and dances, given in halls.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “Up-town” seemed to them largely given to entertainment and hilarity of an enviably prodigal sort.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's boarding-house began to be even better pleased with him than before.
uncheering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
Up-town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Up-town” seemed to them largely given to entertainment and hilarity of an enviably prodigal sort.
vicariously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boarders assisted vicariously at weddings and wedding receptions, afternoon teas and dances, given in halls.
wedding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boarders assisted vicariously at weddings and wedding receptions, afternoon teas and dances, given in halls.
weddings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boarders assisted vicariously at weddings and wedding receptions, afternoon teas and dances, given in halls.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's guests were not of the class which entertains or is entertained, and the details of banquets and ball-dresses and money-spending were not uncheering material for conversation.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mrs. Bowse's boarding-house began to be even better pleased with him than before.
