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 “That is one way to prevent defeat,” said Judith, with a half smile and half frown.
age
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the way of the bold and the wise, wife mine,” answered Tostig, rising, “let all be destruction where thou thyself canst win not!
amused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Tostig sate in the halls of Bruges, and with him sate Judith, his haughty wife.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “It is the way of the bold and the wise, wife mine,” answered Tostig, rising, “let all be destruction where thou thyself canst win not!
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “It is the way of the bold and the wise, wife mine,” answered Tostig, rising, “let all be destruction where thou thyself canst win not!
board
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
bold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the way of the bold and the wise, wife mine,” answered Tostig, rising, “let all be destruction where thou thyself canst win not!
Bruges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tostig sate in the halls of Bruges, and with him sate Judith, his haughty wife.
canstmodal verbUS /kænst/
an old form of “can”, used with “thou”
From this reading “It is the way of the bold and the wise, wife mine,” answered Tostig, rising, “let all be destruction where thou thyself canst win not!
chess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
Countess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
defeat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is one way to prevent defeat,” said Judith, with a half smile and half frown.
destruction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the way of the bold and the wise, wife mine,” answered Tostig, rising, “let all be destruction where thou thyself canst win not!
disorder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
Earl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
frown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is one way to prevent defeat,” said Judith, with a half smile and half frown.
game
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “That is one way to prevent defeat,” said Judith, with a half smile and half frown.
halls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tostig sate in the halls of Bruges, and with him sate Judith, his haughty wife.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
haughty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tostig sate in the halls of Bruges, and with him sate Judith, his haughty wife.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Tostig sate in the halls of Bruges, and with him sate Judith, his haughty wife.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Tostig sate in the halls of Bruges, and with him sate Judith, his haughty wife.
idlesse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Tostig sate in the halls of Bruges, and with him sate Judith, his haughty wife.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “That is one way to prevent defeat,” said Judith, with a half smile and half frown.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
Judith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tostig sate in the halls of Bruges, and with him sate Judith, his haughty wife.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “It is the way of the bold and the wise, wife mine,” answered Tostig, rising, “let all be destruction where thou thyself canst win not!
lord's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “It is the way of the bold and the wise, wife mine,” answered Tostig, rising, “let all be destruction where thou thyself canst win not!
mortaladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrtəl/
causing or relating to death
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “It is the way of the bold and the wise, wife mine,” answered Tostig, rising, “let all be destruction where thou thyself canst win not!
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Tostig sate in the halls of Bruges, and with him sate Judith, his haughty wife.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “That is one way to prevent defeat,” said Judith, with a half smile and half frown.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
Peace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peace to these trifles!
pieces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
playing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
prevent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is one way to prevent defeat,” said Judith, with a half smile and half frown.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
resembling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
rising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the way of the bold and the wise, wife mine,” answered Tostig, rising, “let all be destruction where thou thyself canst win not!
rolled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is one way to prevent defeat,” said Judith, with a half smile and half frown.
sate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tostig sate in the halls of Bruges, and with him sate Judith, his haughty wife.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is one way to prevent defeat,” said Judith, with a half smile and half frown.
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Tostig sate in the halls of Bruges, and with him sate Judith, his haughty wife.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Peace to these trifles!
thoupronounUS /ðaʊ/
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading “It is the way of the bold and the wise, wife mine,” answered Tostig, rising, “let all be destruction where thou thyself canst win not!
thyself
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the way of the bold and the wise, wife mine,” answered Tostig, rising, “let all be destruction where thou thyself canst win not!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “That is one way to prevent defeat,” said Judith, with a half smile and half frown.
Tostig
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tostig sate in the halls of Bruges, and with him sate Judith, his haughty wife.
trifles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peace to these trifles!
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is one way to prevent defeat,” said Judith, with a half smile and half frown.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading “It is the way of the bold and the wise, wife mine,” answered Tostig, rising, “let all be destruction where thou thyself canst win not!
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Earl and his Countess were playing at chess, (or the game resembling it, which amused the idlesse of that age,) and the Countess had put her lord’s game into mortal disorder, when Tostig swept his hand over the board, and the pieces rolled on the floor.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tostig sate in the halls of Bruges, and with him sate Judith, his haughty wife.
win
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the way of the bold and the wise, wife mine,” answered Tostig, rising, “let all be destruction where thou thyself canst win not!
wise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is the way of the bold and the wise, wife mine,” answered Tostig, rising, “let all be destruction where thou thyself canst win not!
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Tostig sate in the halls of Bruges, and with him sate Judith, his haughty wife.
