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 He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
animal's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
aspect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
attempting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
bears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
change
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
considerable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading James had considerable experience with, horses.
experience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading James had considerable experience with, horses.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
fate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
getting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading James had considerable experience with, horses.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
hopeless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
horses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading James had considerable experience with, horses.
HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
insensate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is at once sensate and insensate.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is at once sensate and insensate.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
James
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading James had considerable experience with, horses.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
lead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
mare's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
methods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
obstinacy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
seized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
sensate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is at once sensate and insensate.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
touching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
undertakingnounUS /ˌʌndərˈteɪkɪŋ/
a serious task, project, or venture that someone agrees to do
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
unreasoning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
unrelenting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He knew at once that it was probably a hopeless undertaking to change the mare's mind, or rather her obstinacy.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
whip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, he tried the usual methods, touching with the whip, getting out and attempting to lead, but they were all, as he had supposed from the first, in vain.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading A terrible sense of being up against fate itself seized him: an animal's will unreasoning, unrelenting, bears, in fact, the aspect of fate itself.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading James had considerable experience with, horses.
