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 THE TRUCE I Nearly a week passed.
accountsnounUS /ˈaccounts/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Hilda, in the leisure of a woman of fashion after dinner, was at the piano in the drawing-room.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Hilda, in the leisure of a woman of fashion after dinner, was at the piano in the drawing-room.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
buy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
careless
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From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
chord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda, in the leisure of a woman of fashion after dinner, was at the piano in the drawing-room.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading She had nothing to do.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda, in the leisure of a woman of fashion after dinner, was at the piano in the drawing-room.
dress
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From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
Edwin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
fashion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda, in the leisure of a woman of fashion after dinner, was at the piano in the drawing-room.
food
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From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
hesitations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
Hilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda, in the leisure of a woman of fashion after dinner, was at the piano in the drawing-room.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE TRUCE I Nearly a week passed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hilda, in the leisure of a woman of fashion after dinner, was at the piano in the drawing-room.
jam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
labour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
leisure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda, in the leisure of a woman of fashion after dinner, was at the piano in the drawing-room.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
Like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
melody
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
mend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
Nearly
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From this reading THE TRUCE I Nearly a week passed.
neighbour
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From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She had nothing to do.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hilda, in the leisure of a woman of fashion after dinner, was at the piano in the drawing-room.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
overlook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
page
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE TRUCE I Nearly a week passed.
perform
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
piano
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda, in the leisure of a woman of fashion after dinner, was at the piano in the drawing-room.
picked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
printednounUS /printed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
puzzle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
scheme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
slow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
stockings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TRUCE I Nearly a week passed.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
TRUCE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRUCE I Nearly a week passed.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
urgent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hilda, in the leisure of a woman of fashion after dinner, was at the piano in the drawing-room.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRUCE I Nearly a week passed.
wenches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had not urgent stockings to mend, nor jam to make, nor careless wenches to overlook, nor food to buy, nor accounts to keep, nor a new dress to scheme out of an old one, nor to perform her duty to her neighbour.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Like Edwin, she could not play the piano, but she had picked up a note here and a note there in the course of her life, and with much labour and many slow hesitations she could puzzle out a chord or a melody from the printed page.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda, in the leisure of a woman of fashion after dinner, was at the piano in the drawing-room.
