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 In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was sent to the Vicarage by hand, with instructions to the bearer to wait for an answer.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
answer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was sent to the Vicarage by hand, with instructions to the bearer to wait for an answer.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
attached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
bearer
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From this reading It was sent to the Vicarage by hand, with instructions to the bearer to wait for an answer.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was sent to the Vicarage by hand, with instructions to the bearer to wait for an answer.
Caroline
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From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
DECISION
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
excitement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
expression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
flower-show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was sent to the Vicarage by hand, with instructions to the bearer to wait for an answer.
gaiety
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From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
Grafton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was sent to the Vicarage by hand, with instructions to the bearer to wait for an answer.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
husband's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Mercer took it into her husband's study.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
instructions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was sent to the Vicarage by hand, with instructions to the bearer to wait for an answer.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Mrs. Mercer took it into her husband's study.
invitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was sent to the Vicarage by hand, with instructions to the bearer to wait for an answer.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
Mercer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
messenger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
ordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
pleasure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was sent to the Vicarage by hand, with instructions to the bearer to wait for an answer.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
study
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Mercer took it into her husband's study.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
surprises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Mercer took it into her husband's study.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
variations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
VICAR'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
Vicarage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was sent to the Vicarage by hand, with instructions to the bearer to wait for an answer.
wait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was sent to the Vicarage by hand, with instructions to the bearer to wait for an answer.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this time her face did not light up as she opened and read the note, and only the thought of the waiting messenger sent her to her husband's room at once.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was sent to the Vicarage by hand, with instructions to the bearer to wait for an answer.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was sent to the Vicarage by hand, with instructions to the bearer to wait for an answer.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In the ordinary way she would have done this with some expression of gaiety and pleasure, for she took such variations of life as happy surprises, and could be moved to excitement even by an invitation to a flower-show, with a garden party attached.
write
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VICAR'S DECISION Grafton didn't tell Caroline to write her note of invitation to Mrs. Mercer until the next morning.
