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 Beth smiled in a puzzled way, looking inquiringly at her uncle.
act
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you like I’ll rehearse the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and we’ll act it for Mr. Shakespeare when he comes.”
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If you like I’ll rehearse the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and we’ll act it for Mr. Shakespeare when he comes.”
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Beth smiled in a puzzled way, looking inquiringly at her uncle.
author
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
authors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
balcony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you like I’ll rehearse the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and we’ll act it for Mr. Shakespeare when he comes.”
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
Beth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
clue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew there was some clue to the meaning of his nonsense, but she lacked it.
comes
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From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
Cortlandt
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From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
custom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
emerging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If you like I’ll rehearse the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and we’ll act it for Mr. Shakespeare when he comes.”
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
handy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
hate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Beth smiled in a puzzled way, looking inquiringly at her uncle.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you like I’ll rehearse the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and we’ll act it for Mr. Shakespeare when he comes.”
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If you like I’ll rehearse the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and we’ll act it for Mr. Shakespeare when he comes.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Beth smiled in a puzzled way, looking inquiringly at her uncle.
inquiringly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beth smiled in a puzzled way, looking inquiringly at her uncle.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
Juliet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you like I’ll rehearse the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and we’ll act it for Mr. Shakespeare when he comes.”
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew there was some clue to the meaning of his nonsense, but she lacked it.
lacked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew there was some clue to the meaning of his nonsense, but she lacked it.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you like I’ll rehearse the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and we’ll act it for Mr. Shakespeare when he comes.”
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beth smiled in a puzzled way, looking inquiringly at her uncle.
MASQUE
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From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
meaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew there was some clue to the meaning of his nonsense, but she lacked it.
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
meeting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
NIGHT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
nonsense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew there was some clue to the meaning of his nonsense, but she lacked it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
please
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
puzzled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beth smiled in a puzzled way, looking inquiringly at her uncle.
quotations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
rehearse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you like I’ll rehearse the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and we’ll act it for Mr. Shakespeare when he comes.”
Romeo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you like I’ll rehearse the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and we’ll act it for Mr. Shakespeare when he comes.”
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you like I’ll rehearse the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and we’ll act it for Mr. Shakespeare when he comes.”
Shakespeare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
Shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew there was some clue to the meaning of his nonsense, but she lacked it.
SHROVE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
smiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beth smiled in a puzzled way, looking inquiringly at her uncle.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew there was some clue to the meaning of his nonsense, but she lacked it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
Tuesday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
uncle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beth smiled in a puzzled way, looking inquiringly at her uncle.
unexpectedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the custom of some people to ‘get up’ handy quotations from an author before meeting him, to have them ready to use; it’s supposed to please him, but all real authors hate it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She knew there was some clue to the meaning of his nonsense, but she lacked it.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beth smiled in a puzzled way, looking inquiringly at her uncle.
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you like I’ll rehearse the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and we’ll act it for Mr. Shakespeare when he comes.”
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading THE SHROVE NIGHT MASQUE “Shall you be ready to meet Shakespeare when he comes here on Tuesday night, Beth?” asked Mr. Cortlandt unexpectedly, emerging from behind his morning paper.
