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 One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
Americans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But it is just here that, misled by tradition, and even by history, we deceive ourselves.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
apparently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
bad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it is just here that, misled by tradition, and even by history, we deceive ourselves.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But it is just here that, misled by tradition, and even by history, we deceive ourselves.
centre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
concerned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
deal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
deceive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is just here that, misled by tradition, and even by history, we deceive ourselves.
deny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
disposednounUS /ˈdisposed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
dozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We have so much literature that from time to time it seems even to us we must have a literary centre.
facts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
fireplace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
fireplaces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We have so much literature that from time to time it seems even to us we must have a literary centre.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But it is just here that, misled by tradition, and even by history, we deceive ourselves.
history
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is just here that, misled by tradition, and even by history, we deceive ourselves.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
inattentive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We have so much literature that from time to time it seems even to us we must have a literary centre.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is just here that, misled by tradition, and even by history, we deceive ourselves.
kindled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
literary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
literature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
logic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
misled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is just here that, misled by tradition, and even by history, we deceive ourselves.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have so much literature that from time to time it seems even to us we must have a literary centre.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading We have so much literature that from time to time it seems even to us we must have a literary centre.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
notion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
ourselvespronounUS /aʊərˈselvz/
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
Really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
seems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have so much literature that from time to time it seems even to us we must have a literary centre.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading We have so much literature that from time to time it seems even to us we must have a literary centre.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We have so much literature that from time to time it seems even to us we must have a literary centre.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
tradition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it is just here that, misled by tradition, and even by history, we deceive ourselves.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We have so much literature that from time to time it seems even to us we must have a literary centre.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
WhereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading We say to ourselves, with a good deal of logic, Where there is so much smoke there must be some fire, or at least a fireplace.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the facts which we Americans have a difficulty in making clear to a rather inattentive world outside is that, while we have apparently a literature of our own, we have no literary centre.
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Really, we have no fireplace for such fire as we have kindled; or, if any one is disposed to deny this, then I say, we have a dozen fireplaces; which is quite as bad, so far as the notion of a literary centre is concerned, if it is not worse.
