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 Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
ably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
absence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
action
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
addednounUS /added/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
affairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
aptness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
changed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
confronting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
Curious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
custom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
difficulties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
experiences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
finish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
footman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
hysteria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
innate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
merely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
modern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
necessity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
normal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
observationnounUS /ˈobservation/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
opening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
perfection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
plainlynounUS /ˈplainly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
plane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
promptness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
provided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
readiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
savednounUS /saved/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
situation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
smartness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
steered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
suggests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
type
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
unexplained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
verge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
visitor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
