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 When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am afraid I shan’t be able to come to London very often,” she had said.
afraid
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From this reading “I am afraid I shan’t be able to come to London very often,” she had said.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “I am afraid I shan’t be able to come to London very often,” she had said.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
announced
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From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
any
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From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
appropriate
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From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “I am afraid I shan’t be able to come to London very often,” she had said.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
Belman
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From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
branch-line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
brightened
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From this reading Instead he had brightened visibly at the prospect.
carried
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From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
certain
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From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
changes
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From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am afraid I shan’t be able to come to London very often,” she had said.
contemplated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
country
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From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
crawled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
drastic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
effect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
evidence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
ExpressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
to show or communicate a feeling or idea
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
G
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
glumness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I am afraid I shan’t be able to come to London very often,” she had said.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
Instead
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From this reading Instead he had brightened visibly at the prospect.
irritated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
J
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
Junction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am afraid I shan’t be able to come to London very often,” she had said.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
middle-aged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
mild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am afraid I shan’t be able to come to London very often,” she had said.
post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
prospect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead he had brightened visibly at the prospect.
rate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
Reeder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
regret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am afraid I shan’t be able to come to London very often,” she had said.
seeking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
Selford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
shan't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am afraid I shan’t be able to come to London very often,” she had said.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
shown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
Siltbury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
Southern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
subjects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
train
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
unnaturally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am afraid I shan’t be able to come to London very often,” she had said.
visibly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead he had brightened visibly at the prospect.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first of these was, not unnaturally, the drastic changes she now contemplated, and the effect they already had had upon Mr. J. G. Reeder, that mild and middle-aged man.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading /There/ were two subjects which irritated the mind of Margaret Belman as the Southern Express carried her towards Selford Junction and the branch-line train which crawled from the junction to Siltbury.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading When she had announced that she was seeking a post in the country, he might at least have shown some evidence of regret: a certain glumness would have been appropriate at any rate.
