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 A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pen, a pad, and say a pint Of ink with which to scrawl, To put a foe to flight is all That’s needed—truly all.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The pen for me whene’er I wish An enemy to rout.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
AnothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
ask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
Bangs's
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From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
bit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
Dickens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
doubt
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From this reading The pen is greater than the sword, Of that there is no doubt.
Dumas
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From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
elsewhere
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From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
enemy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pen for me whene’er I wish An enemy to rout.
flight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pen, a pad, and say a pint Of ink with which to scrawl, To put a foe to flight is all That’s needed—truly all.
foe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pen, a pad, and say a pint Of ink with which to scrawl, To put a foe to flight is all That’s needed—truly all.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
greater
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pen is greater than the sword, Of that there is no doubt.
Harper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
ink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pen, a pad, and say a pint Of ink with which to scrawl, To put a foe to flight is all That’s needed—truly all.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The pen is greater than the sword, Of that there is no doubt.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
LITTLEnounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
Marryat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
modicum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
needed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pen, a pad, and say a pint Of ink with which to scrawl, To put a foe to flight is all That’s needed—truly all.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The pen is greater than the sword, Of that there is no doubt.
novel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
pad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pen, a pad, and say a pint Of ink with which to scrawl, To put a foe to flight is all That’s needed—truly all.
paraphrase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
pen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pen is greater than the sword, Of that there is no doubt.
Periodicals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
pint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pen, a pad, and say a pint Of ink with which to scrawl, To put a foe to flight is all That’s needed—truly all.
plot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pen, a pad, and say a pint Of ink with which to scrawl, To put a foe to flight is all That’s needed—truly all.
rout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pen for me whene’er I wish An enemy to rout.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
Scott
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
scrawl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pen, a pad, and say a pint Of ink with which to scrawl, To put a foe to flight is all That’s needed—truly all.
sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
sword
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pen is greater than the sword, Of that there is no doubt.
tangle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
Thackeray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The pen is greater than the sword, Of that there is no doubt.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The pen is greater than the sword, Of that there is no doubt.
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pen, a pad, and say a pint Of ink with which to scrawl, To put a foe to flight is all That’s needed—truly all.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
truly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A pen, a pad, and say a pint Of ink with which to scrawl, To put a foe to flight is all That’s needed—truly all.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
various
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
verses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These verses of Mr. Bangs’s have appeared from time to time in the various Harper Periodicals, and elsewhere.
whene'er
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pen for me whene’er I wish An enemy to rout.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A pen, a pad, and say a pint Of ink with which to scrawl, To put a foe to flight is all That’s needed—truly all.
wish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pen for me whene’er I wish An enemy to rout.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A pen, a pad, and say a pint Of ink with which to scrawl, To put a foe to flight is all That’s needed—truly all.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading A LITTLE bit of Thackeray, A little bit of Scott, A modicum of Dickens just To tangle up the plot, A paraphrase of Marryat, Another from Dumas— You ask me for a novel, sir, And I say, there you are.
