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 It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
albeitconjunctionUS /ɔːlˈbiːɪt/
although
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
bad
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From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
better
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From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
case
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From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
cavaliers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
companions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
countenances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
declared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
detaining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
detention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
escorted
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From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
examine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
excuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
faculty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
gates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
guardhouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
guards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
handwriting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
horseback
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
illegibility
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
inside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
instruction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
lantern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
likely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
litter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
officer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
Paris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
proceed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
respect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
somebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/
a person, without saying who
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
suffer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
truth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In this respect none of his companions were in better case than himself; and they all declared that the handwriting was so bad that nobody on earth could read it.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It was past ten o'clock at night, when a litter, escorted by four men on horseback, passed the gates of Paris.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used it also to examine the pass, though, to say truth, he could not read a word, albeit an officer of some standing.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A short detention took place before the guards at the gates would suffer the party to proceed, and one man went into the guardhouse, and brought out a lantern to examine the inside of the litter and the countenances of the cavaliers.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed likely, at one time, that this illegibility of the writing, or want of the reading faculty on the part of the guards, might be made an excuse for detaining the whole party till somebody with better eyes or better instruction should come up.
