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 Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "If I had something to do I should be ever so much happier," she told June again and again, and June quite agreed.
agreed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If I had something to do I should be ever so much happier," she told June again and again, and June quite agreed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
Ashton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
awful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It must be awful, killing time," she said.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "If I had something to do I should be ever so much happier," she told June again and again, and June quite agreed.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She tried to believe that she was happy in the knowledge of his love, but in her heart she knew that she was restless and dissatisfied.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
declinenounUS /dɪˈklaɪn/
a gradual loss of health and strength
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
dispatched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
dissatisfied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried to believe that she was happy in the knowledge of his love, but in her heart she knew that she was restless and dissatisfied.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "If I had something to do I should be ever so much happier," she told June again and again, and June quite agreed.
Esther
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "If I had something to do I should be ever so much happier," she told June again and again, and June quite agreed.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "If I had something to do I should be ever so much happier," she told June again and again, and June quite agreed.
happier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If I had something to do I should be ever so much happier," she told June again and again, and June quite agreed.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried to believe that she was happy in the knowledge of his love, but in her heart she knew that she was restless and dissatisfied.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried to believe that she was happy in the knowledge of his love, but in her heart she knew that she was restless and dissatisfied.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "If I had something to do I should be ever so much happier," she told June again and again, and June quite agreed.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If I had something to do I should be ever so much happier," she told June again and again, and June quite agreed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She tried to believe that she was happy in the knowledge of his love, but in her heart she knew that she was restless and dissatisfied.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
June
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If I had something to do I should be ever so much happier," she told June again and again, and June quite agreed.
killing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It must be awful, killing time," she said.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried to believe that she was happy in the knowledge of his love, but in her heart she knew that she was restless and dissatisfied.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried to believe that she was happy in the knowledge of his love, but in her heart she knew that she was restless and dissatisfied.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried to believe that she was happy in the knowledge of his love, but in her heart she knew that she was restless and dissatisfied.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If I had something to do I should be ever so much happier," she told June again and again, and June quite agreed.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
offered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
permitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "If I had something to do I should be ever so much happier," she told June again and again, and June quite agreed.
Raymond's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
regret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
regretfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
restless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried to believe that she was happy in the knowledge of his love, but in her heart she knew that she was restless and dissatisfied.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It must be awful, killing time," she said.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
sigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "If I had something to do I should be ever so much happier," she told June again and again, and June quite agreed.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "If I had something to do I should be ever so much happier," she told June again and again, and June quite agreed.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "It must be awful, killing time," she said.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried to believe that she was happy in the knowledge of his love, but in her heart she knew that she was restless and dissatisfied.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
wish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would like to have gone; she would like to have seen Raymond's home and to have got to know his mother, but it was his wish that she should not go.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther wrote to Mrs. Ashton that same night and told her she must regretfully decline the offered position; she gave no reason, but she permitted herself a little sigh of regret when the letter was dispatched.
