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 BUSINESS ONLY Next morning Hughie made Miss Joan Gaymer a proposal of marriage.
achieve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
afterwards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was not an impressive effort--very few proposals are.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was not an impressive effort--very few proposals are.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
breakfast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
brutal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
BUSINESS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUSINESS ONLY Next morning Hughie made Miss Joan Gaymer a proposal of marriage.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
directlynounUS /ˈdirectly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
effort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not an impressive effort--very few proposals are.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
EvennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even thus Hughie failed, and for various reasons.
failed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even thus Hughie failed, and for various reasons.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not an impressive effort--very few proposals are.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Even thus Hughie failed, and for various reasons.
Gaymer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUSINESS ONLY Next morning Hughie made Miss Joan Gaymer a proposal of marriage.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
Hughie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUSINESS ONLY Next morning Hughie made Miss Joan Gaymer a proposal of marriage.
impressive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not an impressive effort--very few proposals are.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
indulgence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not an impressive effort--very few proposals are.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUSINESS ONLY Next morning Hughie made Miss Joan Gaymer a proposal of marriage.
Joey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
Leroy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUSINESS ONLY Next morning Hughie made Miss Joan Gaymer a proposal of marriage.
mark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
marriage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUSINESS ONLY Next morning Hughie made Miss Joan Gaymer a proposal of marriage.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUSINESS ONLY Next morning Hughie made Miss Joan Gaymer a proposal of marriage.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading BUSINESS ONLY Next morning Hughie made Miss Joan Gaymer a proposal of marriage.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
NextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading BUSINESS ONLY Next morning Hughie made Miss Joan Gaymer a proposal of marriage.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not an impressive effort--very few proposals are.
observed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BUSINESS ONLY Next morning Hughie made Miss Joan Gaymer a proposal of marriage.
ONLY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUSINESS ONLY Next morning Hughie made Miss Joan Gaymer a proposal of marriage.
pathetically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
performance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
principal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
proposal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUSINESS ONLY Next morning Hughie made Miss Joan Gaymer a proposal of marriage.
proposals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not an impressive effort--very few proposals are.
proposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Even thus Hughie failed, and for various reasons.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
spectacle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
spectator
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even thus Hughie failed, and for various reasons.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
various
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even thus Hughie failed, and for various reasons.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not an impressive effort--very few proposals are.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not an impressive effort--very few proposals are.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In the first place, he proposed directly after breakfast, which, as Joey pathetically observed to Mrs. Leroy long afterwards, was just the sort of brutal thing he would do.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading But a performance of this kind may miss the mark as a spectacle and yet, by the indulgence of the principal spectator, achieve its end.
