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 I congratulated her cordially and ventured to make of my triumph, as I presumed to call it, a subject of pleasantry.
advice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I mean to take your advice”—and she tucked the little bundle under her arm.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
Ambient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I mean to take your advice”—and she tucked the little bundle under her arm.
annotations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The very sheets,” I smiled; “with precious annotations.”
arm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I mean to take your advice”—and she tucked the little bundle under her arm.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I congratulated her cordially and ventured to make of my triumph, as I presumed to call it, a subject of pleasantry.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Is this the new book?” she asked, holding it up.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Is this the new book?” she asked, holding it up.
bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a group of things tied or wrapped together
From this reading “I mean to take your advice”—and she tucked the little bundle under her arm.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I congratulated her cordially and ventured to make of my triumph, as I presumed to call it, a subject of pleasantry.
congratulated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I congratulated her cordially and ventured to make of my triumph, as I presumed to call it, a subject of pleasantry.
cordially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I congratulated her cordially and ventured to make of my triumph, as I presumed to call it, a subject of pleasantry.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
eccentric
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
grave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “I mean to take your advice”—and she tucked the little bundle under her arm.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
holding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Is this the new book?” she asked, holding it up.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “The very sheets,” I smiled; “with precious annotations.”
Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Is this the new book?” she asked, holding it up.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Is this the new book?” she asked, holding it up.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I mean to take your advice”—and she tucked the little bundle under her arm.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I congratulated her cordially and ventured to make of my triumph, as I presumed to call it, a subject of pleasantry.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
mean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I mean to take your advice”—and she tucked the little bundle under her arm.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I congratulated her cordially and ventured to make of my triumph, as I presumed to call it, a subject of pleasantry.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Is this the new book?” she asked, holding it up.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I congratulated her cordially and ventured to make of my triumph, as I presumed to call it, a subject of pleasantry.
perfectly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
pleasantry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I congratulated her cordially and ventured to make of my triumph, as I presumed to call it, a subject of pleasantry.
preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/
rare and worth a great deal
From this reading “The very sheets,” I smiled; “with precious annotations.”
presented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
presumed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I congratulated her cordially and ventured to make of my triumph, as I presumed to call it, a subject of pleasantry.
quarto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
reflexion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
relaxing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
rigour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
settled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Is this the new book?” she asked, holding it up.
sheets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The very sheets,” I smiled; “with precious annotations.”
smiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The very sheets,” I smiled; “with precious annotations.”
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I congratulated her cordially and ventured to make of my triumph, as I presumed to call it, a subject of pleasantry.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I mean to take your advice”—and she tucked the little bundle under her arm.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Is this the new book?” she asked, holding it up.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Is this the new book?” she asked, holding it up.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I mean to take your advice”—and she tucked the little bundle under her arm.
triumph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I congratulated her cordially and ventured to make of my triumph, as I presumed to call it, a subject of pleasantry.
truly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
tucked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I mean to take your advice”—and she tucked the little bundle under her arm.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “I mean to take your advice”—and she tucked the little bundle under her arm.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Is this the new book?” she asked, holding it up.
ventured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I congratulated her cordially and ventured to make of my triumph, as I presumed to call it, a subject of pleasantry.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The very sheets,” I smiled; “with precious annotations.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “The very sheets,” I smiled; “with precious annotations.”
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But she was perfectly grave and turned away from me, as she had presented herself, without relaxing her rigour; after which I settled down to my quarto again with the reflexion that Mrs. Ambient was truly an eccentric.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I mean to take your advice”—and she tucked the little bundle under her arm.
