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 Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
ago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
allowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
arguments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
broke
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From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
catching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
child
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From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
Claire
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From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
closed
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From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
daily
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From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
danger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
DIPHTHERIA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
EARLY
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From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
fearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
fence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
George
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
hanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
indignant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
influenced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
Marian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
passing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
schools
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
Uncle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
wife's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
