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 She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
advantage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
asserted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
attractions
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From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
Aunt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Elizabeth shook her head.
Barton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
becoming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
care
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
carelessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “These two downstairs have waited a good while,” I returned, carelessly.
Catholics
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
Church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
circumstances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
Clara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
conduct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
consequences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
deaconess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
Dix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
Dorothea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
downstairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “These two downstairs have waited a good while,” I returned, carelessly.
dreamily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
Elizabeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Elizabeth shook her head.
Episcopal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
evident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
existence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
Frye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
gentlemennounUS /gentlemen/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “These two downstairs have waited a good while,” I returned, carelessly.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Elizabeth shook her head.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Aunt Elizabeth shook her head.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
loose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
mentioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
natures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
nunnery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
nurse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
observed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “These two downstairs have waited a good while,” I returned, carelessly.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
settlement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
shook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Elizabeth shook her head.
sincerity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “These two downstairs have waited a good while,” I returned, carelessly.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
trained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “These two downstairs have waited a good while,” I returned, carelessly.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “These two downstairs have waited a good while,” I returned, carelessly.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading “These two downstairs have waited a good while,” I returned, carelessly.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
wish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She asserted with evident sincerity that she didn't wish to see any gentlemen; she didn't care to see any gentlemen under any circumstances; she never meant to have anything to do with gentlemen again.
woman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said something about becoming a deaconess in the Episcopal Church; she spoke of the attractions in the life of a trained nurse; mentioned settlement work; and asked me what I thought of Elizabeth Frye, Dorothea Dix, and Clara Barton.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “This is one advantage that Catholics have over us,” she observed, dreamily: “one could go into a nunnery; then one would be quite sure there would be no men to let loose the consequences of their natures and conduct upon a woman's whole existence.”
