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 From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
abroad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
Adair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I shall never be happy here," she added, in her letter, "for Mrs. Adair is so strict, and tiresome!
Adair's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
addednounUS /added/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I shall never be happy here," she added, in her letter, "for Mrs. Adair is so strict, and tiresome!
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I shall never be happy here," she added, in her letter, "for Mrs. Adair is so strict, and tiresome!
anxious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
assure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
Blond's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
Colonel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
drive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
education
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
finish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I shall never be happy here," she added, in her letter, "for Mrs. Adair is so strict, and tiresome!
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I shall never be happy here," she added, in her letter, "for Mrs. Adair is so strict, and tiresome!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I shall never be happy here," she added, in her letter, "for Mrs. Adair is so strict, and tiresome!
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
horses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I shall never be happy here," she added, in her letter, "for Mrs. Adair is so strict, and tiresome!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I shall never be happy here," she added, in her letter, "for Mrs. Adair is so strict, and tiresome!
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
La
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
ladies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I shall never be happy here," she added, in her letter, "for Mrs. Adair is so strict, and tiresome!
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
mamma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
mention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
Methodist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I shall never be happy here," she added, in her letter, "for Mrs. Adair is so strict, and tiresome!
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
obliged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
parents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
prayers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
pupil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
remove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
sanctified
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
sermons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "I shall never be happy here," she added, in her letter, "for Mrs. Adair is so strict, and tiresome!
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "I shall never be happy here," she added, in her letter, "for Mrs. Adair is so strict, and tiresome!
sooner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
strict
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I shall never be happy here," she added, in her letter, "for Mrs. Adair is so strict, and tiresome!
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
suitable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
surprisednounUS /surprised/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
terms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
tiresome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I shall never be happy here," she added, in her letter, "for Mrs. Adair is so strict, and tiresome!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
urgent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
Vincent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading From the first day that Miss Vincent entered Mrs. Adair's house as a pupil, she was anxious to return to Madame La Blond's.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
WhilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
write
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst the Colonel was at home, she knew it would be in vain to mention the subject; but no sooner was he called abroad, than she wrote in the most urgent terms to her mamma to remove her.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You will be surprised, mamma, when I assure you that she is quite a sanctified Methodist: we have prayers in a morning, and prayers in an evening, and are obliged to write sermons!
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is not by any means a suitable person to finish my education; and there are not five young ladies in the school, whose parents drive four horses.
