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 Mame spent a very restless night.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If she turned back now, with the gates of her kingdom opening wide, she never deserved to see them again.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she turned back now, with the gates of her kingdom opening wide, she never deserved to see them again.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
candle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
day's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
decision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
deserved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she turned back now, with the gates of her kingdom opening wide, she never deserved to see them again.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
dry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
follow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
gates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she turned back now, with the gates of her kingdom opening wide, she never deserved to see them again.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
guttering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If she turned back now, with the gates of her kingdom opening wide, she never deserved to see them again.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Stick it, Mame.”
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
kingdom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she turned back now, with the gates of her kingdom opening wide, she never deserved to see them again.
lucid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
Mame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mame spent a very restless night.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
momentous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If she turned back now, with the gates of her kingdom opening wide, she never deserved to see them again.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mame spent a very restless night.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she turned back now, with the gates of her kingdom opening wide, she never deserved to see them again.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If she turned back now, with the gates of her kingdom opening wide, she never deserved to see them again.
opening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she turned back now, with the gates of her kingdom opening wide, she never deserved to see them again.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
restless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mame spent a very restless night.
secretly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she turned back now, with the gates of her kingdom opening wide, she never deserved to see them again.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
slogan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
somewhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mame spent a very restless night.
star
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
stenography
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
Stick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stick it, Mame.”
study
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
sun-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading If she turned back now, with the gates of her kingdom opening wide, she never deserved to see them again.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she turned back now, with the gates of her kingdom opening wide, she never deserved to see them again.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mame spent a very restless night.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But somewhere in the small hours, when her mind was at its most lucid, she took the momentous decision to follow her star.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she turned back now, with the gates of her kingdom opening wide, she never deserved to see them again.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading If she turned back now, with the gates of her kingdom opening wide, she never deserved to see them again.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had always been her slogan, even in the cold hour of sun-up before the day’s work began or over a guttering candle after it was done, when secretly she gave her whole mind to the hard and dry study of stenography.