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 Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I wish I could find another; but in writing one must be more explicit than one need be by word of mouth.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
ask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
aware
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I wish I could find another; but in writing one must be more explicit than one need be by word of mouth.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I wish I could find another; but in writing one must be more explicit than one need be by word of mouth.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
coevals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I wish I could find another; but in writing one must be more explicit than one need be by word of mouth.
defects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
demands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
elsewhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
employers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
engaged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
essay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
explicit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wish I could find another; but in writing one must be more explicit than one need be by word of mouth.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wish I could find another; but in writing one must be more explicit than one need be by word of mouth.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
grow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
haunting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
imposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
incredible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
jarsnounUS /dʒɑːrz/
Wide-mouthed cylindrical containers made of clay or glass, used for storing goods.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
knowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
mistress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
mock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
mostly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
mouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wish I could find another; but in writing one must be more explicit than one need be by word of mouth.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I wish I could find another; but in writing one must be more explicit than one need be by word of mouth.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I wish I could find another; but in writing one must be more explicit than one need be by word of mouth.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I wish I could find another; but in writing one must be more explicit than one need be by word of mouth.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
period
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
qualms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
remain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
Sarah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
seems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
Servants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
simultaneously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
Smith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
tantamount
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
tasks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
title
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
To-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
touchy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
uncomfortably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who remain grow more and more touchy, knowing themselves a mock to the rest; and their qualms, even more uncomfortably than their demands and defects, are always haunting their employers.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
wish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wish I could find another; but in writing one must be more explicit than one need be by word of mouth.
wishes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
wishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To-day they are persons not knowing, as who should say, where they are, and wishing all the while they were elsewhere--and mostly, as I have said, going elsewhere.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wish I could find another; but in writing one must be more explicit than one need be by word of mouth.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Servants would be persons knowing that for a certain period certain tasks were imposed on them, tasks tantamount to those in which all their coevals were simultaneously engaged.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wish I could find another; but in writing one must be more explicit than one need be by word of mouth.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading It seems almost incredible that there was a time when Mrs. Smith said ‘Sarah, your master wishes--’ or Mr. Smith said ‘Sarah, go up and ask your mistress whether--’ I am well aware that the very title of this essay jars.
