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 Yet he knew himself for a greater idiot because he had not been able to tell Walter the truth.
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet he knew himself for a greater idiot because he had not been able to tell Walter the truth.
Adams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
bad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not bring himself to do it, nor even to state his case in its best terms; and that was because he felt that even in its best terms the case was a bad one.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Yet he knew himself for a greater idiot because he had not been able to tell Walter the truth.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Yet he knew himself for a greater idiot because he had not been able to tell Walter the truth.
besettings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not bring himself to do it, nor even to state his case in its best terms; and that was because he felt that even in its best terms the case was a bad one.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, Lordy, Lord!” he groaned, and then, as resentment moved him--“That dang boy!
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not bring himself to do it, nor even to state his case in its best terms; and that was because he felt that even in its best terms the case was a bad one.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not bring himself to do it, nor even to state his case in its best terms; and that was because he felt that even in its best terms the case was a bad one.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not bring himself to do it, nor even to state his case in its best terms; and that was because he felt that even in its best terms the case was a bad one.
dang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, Lordy, Lord!” he groaned, and then, as resentment moved him--“That dang boy!
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He could not bring himself to do it, nor even to state his case in its best terms; and that was because he felt that even in its best terms the case was a bad one.
encounter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could not bring himself to do it, nor even to state his case in its best terms; and that was because he felt that even in its best terms the case was a bad one.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not bring himself to do it, nor even to state his case in its best terms; and that was because he felt that even in its best terms the case was a bad one.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
greater
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet he knew himself for a greater idiot because he had not been able to tell Walter the truth.
groaned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, Lordy, Lord!” he groaned, and then, as resentment moved him--“That dang boy!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Yet he knew himself for a greater idiot because he had not been able to tell Walter the truth.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Oh, Lordy, Lord!” he groaned, and then, as resentment moved him--“That dang boy!
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Yet he knew himself for a greater idiot because he had not been able to tell Walter the truth.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
idiot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dang idiot!”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
inexplicablenounUS /inexplicable/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He could not bring himself to do it, nor even to state his case in its best terms; and that was because he felt that even in its best terms the case was a bad one.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He could not bring himself to do it, nor even to state his case in its best terms; and that was because he felt that even in its best terms the case was a bad one.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet he knew himself for a greater idiot because he had not been able to tell Walter the truth.
Lord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, Lordy, Lord!” he groaned, and then, as resentment moved him--“That dang boy!
Lordy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, Lordy, Lord!” he groaned, and then, as resentment moved him--“That dang boy!
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, Lordy, Lord!” he groaned, and then, as resentment moved him--“That dang boy!
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He could not bring himself to do it, nor even to state his case in its best terms; and that was because he felt that even in its best terms the case was a bad one.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Yet he knew himself for a greater idiot because he had not been able to tell Walter the truth.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
Oh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, Lordy, Lord!” he groaned, and then, as resentment moved him--“That dang boy!
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
refusal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
resentment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, Lordy, Lord!” he groaned, and then, as resentment moved him--“That dang boy!
righteous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not bring himself to do it, nor even to state his case in its best terms; and that was because he felt that even in its best terms the case was a bad one.
stubborn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet he knew himself for a greater idiot because he had not been able to tell Walter the truth.
terms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not bring himself to do it, nor even to state his case in its best terms; and that was because he felt that even in its best terms the case was a bad one.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
transgression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
truth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet he knew himself for a greater idiot because he had not been able to tell Walter the truth.
Walter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet he knew himself for a greater idiot because he had not been able to tell Walter the truth.
Walter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He could not bring himself to do it, nor even to state his case in its best terms; and that was because he felt that even in its best terms the case was a bad one.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant his own transgression and his own way; for Walter's stubborn refusal appeared to Adams just then as one of the inexplicable but righteous besettings he must encounter in following that way.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet he knew himself for a greater idiot because he had not been able to tell Walter the truth.
