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 The mystery is not their continuance, but how did they get a start?
accustomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
ballot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We take little help from studying the bees --originally no one could have been born a queen.
bees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We take little help from studying the bees --originally no one could have been born a queen.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We take little help from studying the bees --originally no one could have been born a queen.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The mystery is not their continuance, but how did they get a start?
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
consent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
continuance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mystery is not their continuance, but how did they get a start?
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading We take little help from studying the bees --originally no one could have been born a queen.
cunning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
descendants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the descendants of these privileged persons hold the same positions when they are neither strong, nor wise, nor very cunning.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The mystery is not their continuance, but how did they get a start?
election
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
expressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We take little help from studying the bees --originally no one could have been born a queen.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mystery is not their continuance, but how did they get a start?
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We take little help from studying the bees --originally no one could have been born a queen.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We take little help from studying the bees --originally no one could have been born a queen.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the descendants of these privileged persons hold the same positions when they are neither strong, nor wise, nor very cunning.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
kings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We take little help from studying the bees --originally no one could have been born a queen.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mystery is not their continuance, but how did they get a start?
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading But the descendants of these privileged persons hold the same positions when they are neither strong, nor wise, nor very cunning.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading We take little help from studying the bees --originally no one could have been born a queen.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading But the descendants of these privileged persons hold the same positions when they are neither strong, nor wise, nor very cunning.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The mystery is not their continuance, but how did they get a start?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We take little help from studying the bees --originally no one could have been born a queen.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
originally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We take little help from studying the bees --originally no one could have been born a queen.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
positions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
privileged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
queen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We take little help from studying the bees --originally no one could have been born a queen.
queens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
reflection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the descendants of these privileged persons hold the same positions when they are neither strong, nor wise, nor very cunning.
selection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
startnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The mystery is not their continuance, but how did they get a start?
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the descendants of these privileged persons hold the same positions when they are neither strong, nor wise, nor very cunning.
strongest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
studying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We take little help from studying the bees --originally no one could have been born a queen.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We take little help from studying the bees --originally no one could have been born a queen.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The mystery is not their continuance, but how did they get a start?
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The mystery is not their continuance, but how did they get a start?
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But the descendants of these privileged persons hold the same positions when they are neither strong, nor wise, nor very cunning.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the descendants of these privileged persons hold the same positions when they are neither strong, nor wise, nor very cunning.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But the descendants of these privileged persons hold the same positions when they are neither strong, nor wise, nor very cunning.
wise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the descendants of these privileged persons hold the same positions when they are neither strong, nor wise, nor very cunning.
wisest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been not only a selection, but an election, not by ballot, but by consent some way expressed, and the privileged persons got their positions because they were the strongest, or the wisest, or the most cunning.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are so much accustomed to kings and queens and other privileged persons of that sort in this world that it is only on reflection that we wonder how they became so.
