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 To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
acted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fancied that they acted upon each other beneficially towards her.
affected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is easy to be exemplary with a sick girl, but they increasingly affected Breckon as exemplary with Ellen.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is easy to be exemplary with a sick girl, but they increasingly affected Breckon as exemplary with Ellen.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
beneficially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fancied that they acted upon each other beneficially towards her.
boasting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
Breckon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is easy to be exemplary with a sick girl, but they increasingly affected Breckon as exemplary with Ellen.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It is easy to be exemplary with a sick girl, but they increasingly affected Breckon as exemplary with Ellen.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
consistency
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
critical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
daughter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading He fancied that they acted upon each other beneficially towards her.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is easy to be exemplary with a sick girl, but they increasingly affected Breckon as exemplary with Ellen.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
Ellen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
exemplary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
fancied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fancied that they acted upon each other beneficially towards her.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
father's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
fondness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
foreboded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is easy to be exemplary with a sick girl, but they increasingly affected Breckon as exemplary with Ellen.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
guard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He fancied that they acted upon each other beneficially towards her.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He fancied that they acted upon each other beneficially towards her.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
increasingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is easy to be exemplary with a sick girl, but they increasingly affected Breckon as exemplary with Ellen.
indulgence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is easy to be exemplary with a sick girl, but they increasingly affected Breckon as exemplary with Ellen.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is easy to be exemplary with a sick girl, but they increasingly affected Breckon as exemplary with Ellen.
keeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
Kenton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not that.
obliged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
sick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is easy to be exemplary with a sick girl, but they increasingly affected Breckon as exemplary with Ellen.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
spectator
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
tenderness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He fancied that they acted upon each other beneficially towards her.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It is easy to be exemplary with a sick girl, but they increasingly affected Breckon as exemplary with Ellen.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
tiresome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading He fancied that they acted upon each other beneficially towards her.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He fancied that they acted upon each other beneficially towards her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
weak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
whims
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he had foreboded some tiresome boasting from the father's tenderness, and some weak indulgence of the daughter's whims from her mother; but there was either never any ground for this, or else Mrs. Kenton, in keeping her husband from boasting, had been obliged in mere consistency to set a guard upon her own fondness.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading To a spectator who had been critical at first, Mr. and Mrs. Kenton seemed an exemplary father and mother with Ellen as well as with their other children.
