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 was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
Anxiously
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From this reading Anxiously he considered this problem; but the more thought he gave to it, the more baffling and complex seemed to be the difficulties it presented.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Shakespeare talked long and earnestly with the falconer as they sat out in the sun on the tavern bench.
baffling
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From this reading Anxiously he considered this problem; but the more thought he gave to it, the more baffling and complex seemed to be the difficulties it presented.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Anxiously he considered this problem; but the more thought he gave to it, the more baffling and complex seemed to be the difficulties it presented.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading SELDOM had the mind of William Shakespeare been exercised more severely than in this hour.
bench
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shakespeare talked long and earnestly with the falconer as they sat out in the sun on the tavern bench.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Anxiously he considered this problem; but the more thought he gave to it, the more baffling and complex seemed to be the difficulties it presented.
complex
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From this reading Anxiously he considered this problem; but the more thought he gave to it, the more baffling and complex seemed to be the difficulties it presented.
confide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
considered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anxiously he considered this problem; but the more thought he gave to it, the more baffling and complex seemed to be the difficulties it presented.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading No story could have been more poignant.
difficulties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anxiously he considered this problem; but the more thought he gave to it, the more baffling and complex seemed to be the difficulties it presented.
distraught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
earnestly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shakespeare talked long and earnestly with the falconer as they sat out in the sun on the tavern bench.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
exercised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SELDOM had the mind of William Shakespeare been exercised more severely than in this hour.
falconer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shakespeare talked long and earnestly with the falconer as they sat out in the sun on the tavern bench.
gave
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From this reading Anxiously he considered this problem; but the more thought he gave to it, the more baffling and complex seemed to be the difficulties it presented.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading SELDOM had the mind of William Shakespeare been exercised more severely than in this hour.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading No story could have been more poignant.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑnɪst/
truthful and trustworthy
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SELDOM had the mind of William Shakespeare been exercised more severely than in this hour.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SELDOM had the mind of William Shakespeare been exercised more severely than in this hour.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Shakespeare talked long and earnestly with the falconer as they sat out in the sun on the tavern bench.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
Markham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading SELDOM had the mind of William Shakespeare been exercised more severely than in this hour.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SELDOM had the mind of William Shakespeare been exercised more severely than in this hour.
nearness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No story could have been more poignant.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SELDOM had the mind of William Shakespeare been exercised more severely than in this hour.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Shakespeare talked long and earnestly with the falconer as they sat out in the sun on the tavern bench.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shakespeare talked long and earnestly with the falconer as they sat out in the sun on the tavern bench.
poignant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No story could have been more poignant.
presented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anxiously he considered this problem; but the more thought he gave to it, the more baffling and complex seemed to be the difficulties it presented.
problem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anxiously he considered this problem; but the more thought he gave to it, the more baffling and complex seemed to be the difficulties it presented.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shakespeare talked long and earnestly with the falconer as they sat out in the sun on the tavern bench.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Anxiously he considered this problem; but the more thought he gave to it, the more baffling and complex seemed to be the difficulties it presented.
SELDOM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SELDOM had the mind of William Shakespeare been exercised more severely than in this hour.
severely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SELDOM had the mind of William Shakespeare been exercised more severely than in this hour.
Shakespeare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SELDOM had the mind of William Shakespeare been exercised more severely than in this hour.
sought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No story could have been more poignant.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shakespeare talked long and earnestly with the falconer as they sat out in the sun on the tavern bench.
talked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shakespeare talked long and earnestly with the falconer as they sat out in the sun on the tavern bench.
tavern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shakespeare talked long and earnestly with the falconer as they sat out in the sun on the tavern bench.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading SELDOM had the mind of William Shakespeare been exercised more severely than in this hour.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SELDOM had the mind of William Shakespeare been exercised more severely than in this hour.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Shakespeare talked long and earnestly with the falconer as they sat out in the sun on the tavern bench.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading SELDOM had the mind of William Shakespeare been exercised more severely than in this hour.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Anxiously he considered this problem; but the more thought he gave to it, the more baffling and complex seemed to be the difficulties it presented.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SELDOM had the mind of William Shakespeare been exercised more severely than in this hour.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Shakespeare talked long and earnestly with the falconer as they sat out in the sun on the tavern bench.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet was it the duty even of a true subject and of an honest man to confide to the distraught John Markham his knowledge of the nearness of those whom he sought?
