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 For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Alvina fell again into humility and fear: she began to show symptoms of her mother’s heart trouble.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
Alvina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alvina fell again into humility and fear: she began to show symptoms of her mother’s heart trouble.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
attended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Alvina fell again into humility and fear: she began to show symptoms of her mother’s heart trouble.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
chapel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
choir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
dustily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
events
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alvina fell again into humility and fear: she began to show symptoms of her mother’s heart trouble.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alvina fell again into humility and fear: she began to show symptoms of her mother’s heart trouble.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
games
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
grubbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alvina fell again into humility and fear: she began to show symptoms of her mother’s heart trouble.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The trouble with her ship was that it would _not_ sail.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It rode water-logged in the rotting port of home.
House
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
housemaid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
humility
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alvina fell again into humility and fear: she began to show symptoms of her mother’s heart trouble.
hurried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It rode water-logged in the rotting port of home.
independence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Alvina fell again into humility and fear: she began to show symptoms of her mother’s heart trouble.
irony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The trouble with her ship was that it would _not_ sail.
laughed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
Manchester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
month
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
moods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alvina fell again into humility and fear: she began to show symptoms of her mother’s heart trouble.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The trouble with her ship was that it would _not_ sail.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It rode water-logged in the rotting port of home.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
pay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
played
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
port
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It rode water-logged in the rotting port of home.
reckless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
rode
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It rode water-logged in the rotting port of home.
rotting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It rode water-logged in the rotting port of home.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
sailnounUS /sail/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The trouble with her ship was that it would _not_ sail.
sang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
season
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Alvina fell again into humility and fear: she began to show symptoms of her mother’s heart trouble.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The trouble with her ship was that it would _not_ sail.
shopping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alvina fell again into humility and fear: she began to show symptoms of her mother’s heart trouble.
Sundays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
symptoms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alvina fell again into humility and fear: she began to show symptoms of her mother’s heart trouble.
talked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The trouble with her ship was that it would _not_ sail.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The trouble with her ship was that it would _not_ sail.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trouble with her ship was that it would _not_ sail.
various
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The trouble with her ship was that it would _not_ sail.
water-logged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It rode water-logged in the rotting port of home.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For day followed day, month followed month, season after season went by, and she grubbed away like a housemaid in Manchester House, she hurried round doing the shopping, she sang in the choir on Sundays, she attended the various chapel events, she went out to visit friends, and laughed and talked and played games.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The trouble with her ship was that it would _not_ sail.
withering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The trouble with her ship was that it would _not_ sail.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading All very well to have wild, reckless moods of irony and independence, if you have to pay for them by withering dustily on the shelf.
