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 After all that I have just said, I hope that you will look on my fears as a refinement of friendship.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After all that I have just said, I hope that you will look on my fears as a refinement of friendship.
all
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From this reading After all that I have just said, I hope that you will look on my fears as a refinement of friendship.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
ambition
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From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
anxiety
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From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
bushes
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From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading How can he maintain himself in the society to which his tastes incline him?
Charente
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From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
condemn
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From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
David
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From this reading “No, not generous, only wise,” said David.
dear
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From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
edge
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From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
Eve
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From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
fears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After all that I have just said, I hope that you will look on my fears as a refinement of friendship.
friendship
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From this reading After all that I have just said, I hope that you will look on my fears as a refinement of friendship.
generous
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From this reading “No, not generous, only wise,” said David.
hard
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From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading After all that I have just said, I hope that you will look on my fears as a refinement of friendship.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How can he maintain himself in the society to which his tastes incline him?
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading How can he maintain himself in the society to which his tastes incline him?
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
hope
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From this reading After all that I have just said, I hope that you will look on my fears as a refinement of friendship.
How
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From this reading How can he maintain himself in the society to which his tastes incline him?
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading After all that I have just said, I hope that you will look on my fears as a refinement of friendship.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading How can he maintain himself in the society to which his tastes incline him?
incline
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From this reading How can he maintain himself in the society to which his tastes incline him?
just
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From this reading After all that I have just said, I hope that you will look on my fears as a refinement of friendship.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
listeners
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From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading After all that I have just said, I hope that you will look on my fears as a refinement of friendship.
Lucien's
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From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
maintain
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From this reading How can he maintain himself in the society to which his tastes incline him?
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “No, not generous, only wise,” said David.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “No, not generous, only wise,” said David.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After all that I have just said, I hope that you will look on my fears as a refinement of friendship.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, not generous, only wise,” said David.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
reeds
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From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
refinement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After all that I have just said, I hope that you will look on my fears as a refinement of friendship.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, not generous, only wise,” said David.
sky
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From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
social
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
society
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How can he maintain himself in the society to which his tastes incline him?
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
stimulated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
struggle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
tastes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How can he maintain himself in the society to which his tastes incline him?
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
unthinkingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading How can he maintain himself in the society to which his tastes incline him?
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading After all that I have just said, I hope that you will look on my fears as a refinement of friendship.
wise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, not generous, only wise,” said David.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “And now that we are quite alone under the sky, with no listeners except the bushes and the reeds by the edge of the Charente, let me tell you about my anxiety as to Lucien’s present step, dear Eve.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You and your mother have done all that you could to put him above his social position; but when you stimulated his ambition, did you not unthinkingly condemn him to a hard struggle?
