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 Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "My poor little dark room has already cast a shadow over you."
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
answering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
arm-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
assume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
bad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
blacker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
cast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "My poor little dark room has already cast a shadow over you."
Catinat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
compliment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
criednounUS /cried/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
curtsied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "My poor little dark room has already cast a shadow over you."
de
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
deeply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
draw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
forehead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
frown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
gaiety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "My poor little dark room has already cast a shadow over you."
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
humours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
king
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
LE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LE ROI S'AMUSE.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
lip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "My poor little dark room has already cast a shadow over you."
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
Mademoiselle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
Maintenon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My poor little dark room has already cast a shadow over you."
Nanon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
NayexclamationUS /neɪ/
an old word for “no”
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
necessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "My poor little dark room has already cast a shadow over you."
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "My poor little dark room has already cast a shadow over you."
pouting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
ROI
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LE ROI S'AMUSE.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
S'AMUSE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LE ROI S'AMUSE.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading "My poor little dark room has already cast a shadow over you."
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
threw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
thrown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
vacant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
vanished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
visitor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.
wheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/
at any time that; every time that
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "My poor little dark room has already cast a shadow over you."
