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 Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
bearded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
boys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
brothers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
CAREER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NEW CAREER.
consult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
darkened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
darling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
defeated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
direct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
eldest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
faint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
father's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
guide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
kiss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
mouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
NevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
NEW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NEW CAREER.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
prospects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
purpose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
Renton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
resolution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
soothingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
stern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
SuchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NEW CAREER.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
twenty-four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
weep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
