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 Doctor Phillips was a man of sixty, and a bachelor.
affairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
aggravated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Doctor Phillips was a man of sixty, and a bachelor.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
awake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
bachelor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Phillips was a man of sixty, and a bachelor.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
behaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
Brandt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
break
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
brother-in-law
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
condition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
dearest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
DoctornounUS /doctor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Doctor Phillips was a man of sixty, and a bachelor.
Elinor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
fairly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
feared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
fiancée
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
Harriet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
hopeless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
interested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
Leyton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Phillips was a man of sixty, and a bachelor.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
Margaret's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
misconduct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Doctor Phillips was a man of sixty, and a bachelor.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
opinion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
otherwise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
Phillips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Phillips was a man of sixty, and a bachelor.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
Pullen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
regard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
sixty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Phillips was a man of sixty, and a bachelor.
sleepless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
strengthened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
suffering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
ties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
trial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
unwilling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He feared that a heavy trial lay before her and he was unwilling to see it aggravated by any misconduct on the part of her brother-in-law.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Doctor Phillips was a man of sixty, and a bachelor.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading He had never made any home ties for himself, and was therefore more interested in Margaret Pullen (whose father had been one of his dearest friends) than he might otherwise have been.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
wondering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a sleepless night, his last visit to Margaret’s suffering child having strengthened his opinion as to her hopeless condition, and he lay awake wondering how he should break the news to the poor young mother.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see that the young man was (to say the least of it) not behaving fairly towards his _fiancée_, Elinor Leyton, and he was determined to open his eyes to the true state of affairs with regard to Harriet Brandt.
