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 An evening in a hotel is seldom cheerful, and this evening was very forlorn.
amusement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An evening in a hotel is seldom cheerful, and this evening was very forlorn.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An evening in a hotel is seldom cheerful, and this evening was very forlorn.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was very strange and dreadfully disenchanting on their first night in London to be compelled to take to this way of getting through the evening.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
board
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
cheerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An evening in a hotel is seldom cheerful, and this evening was very forlorn.
compelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very strange and dreadfully disenchanting on their first night in London to be compelled to take to this way of getting through the evening.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Mr Yorke did not return, though the hour for which he had ordered dinner was past.
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Yorke did not return, though the hour for which he had ordered dinner was past.
disenchanting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very strange and dreadfully disenchanting on their first night in London to be compelled to take to this way of getting through the evening.
dolefully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
dreadfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very strange and dreadfully disenchanting on their first night in London to be compelled to take to this way of getting through the evening.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An evening in a hotel is seldom cheerful, and this evening was very forlorn.
EverythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
expedients
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was very strange and dreadfully disenchanting on their first night in London to be compelled to take to this way of getting through the evening.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mr Yorke did not return, though the hour for which he had ordered dinner was past.
forlorn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An evening in a hotel is seldom cheerful, and this evening was very forlorn.
getting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very strange and dreadfully disenchanting on their first night in London to be compelled to take to this way of getting through the evening.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr Yorke did not return, though the hour for which he had ordered dinner was past.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mr Yorke did not return, though the hour for which he had ordered dinner was past.
hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An evening in a hotel is seldom cheerful, and this evening was very forlorn.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Yorke did not return, though the hour for which he had ordered dinner was past.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading An evening in a hotel is seldom cheerful, and this evening was very forlorn.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading An evening in a hotel is seldom cheerful, and this evening was very forlorn.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was very strange and dreadfully disenchanting on their first night in London to be compelled to take to this way of getting through the evening.
lively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very strange and dreadfully disenchanting on their first night in London to be compelled to take to this way of getting through the evening.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Yorke did not return, though the hour for which he had ordered dinner was past.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very strange and dreadfully disenchanting on their first night in London to be compelled to take to this way of getting through the evening.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mr Yorke did not return, though the hour for which he had ordered dinner was past.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
ordered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Yorke did not return, though the hour for which he had ordered dinner was past.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Yorke did not return, though the hour for which he had ordered dinner was past.
pleasantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
provided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
recourse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
requirednounUS /required/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Yorke did not return, though the hour for which he had ordered dinner was past.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
seldom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An evening in a hotel is seldom cheerful, and this evening was very forlorn.
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
society
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very strange and dreadfully disenchanting on their first night in London to be compelled to take to this way of getting through the evening.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was very strange and dreadfully disenchanting on their first night in London to be compelled to take to this way of getting through the evening.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr Yorke did not return, though the hour for which he had ordered dinner was past.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The girls sat very dolefully one on each side of the table, and read the books which had been provided for their amusement on board ship.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading An evening in a hotel is seldom cheerful, and this evening was very forlorn.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Mr Yorke did not return, though the hour for which he had ordered dinner was past.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was very strange and dreadfully disenchanting on their first night in London to be compelled to take to this way of getting through the evening.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An evening in a hotel is seldom cheerful, and this evening was very forlorn.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading An evening in a hotel is seldom cheerful, and this evening was very forlorn.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very strange and dreadfully disenchanting on their first night in London to be compelled to take to this way of getting through the evening.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Mr Yorke did not return, though the hour for which he had ordered dinner was past.
works
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had been so lively on board ship, there had been so much society, so many expedients to make the time pass pleasantly, that they had not required to have recourse to these works.
Yorke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Yorke did not return, though the hour for which he had ordered dinner was past.
