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 cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was healthy and strong, and had nothing to do.
aware
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day Martin became aware that he was lonely.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day Martin became aware that he was lonely.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading Two books were soon to be published, and he had more books that might find publication.
Brissenden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
cafés
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
calling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
cessation
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From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
cigarettes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day Martin became aware that he was lonely.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He was healthy and strong, and had nothing to do.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
Egyptian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
estrangement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two books were soon to be published, and he had more books that might find publication.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
game
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was healthy and strong, and had nothing to do.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One day Martin became aware that he was lonely.
healthy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was healthy and strong, and had nothing to do.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
lonely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day Martin became aware that he was lonely.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
Martin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day Martin became aware that he was lonely.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Two books were soon to be published, and he had more books that might find publication.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two books were soon to be published, and he had more books that might find publication.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He was healthy and strong, and had nothing to do.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day Martin became aware that he was lonely.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
pinned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
played
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
publication
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two books were soon to be published, and he had more books that might find publication.
published
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two books were soon to be published, and he had more books that might find publication.
refused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
Ruth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
Seas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two books were soon to be published, and he had more books that might find publication.
South
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
States
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was healthy and strong, and had nothing to do.
studying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One day Martin became aware that he was lonely.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was healthy and strong, and had nothing to do.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
Two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two books were soon to be published, and he had more books that might find publication.
United
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One day Martin became aware that he was lonely.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cessation from writing and studying, the death of Brissenden, and the estrangement from Ruth had made a big hole in his life; and his life refused to be pinned down to good living in cafés and the smoking of Egyptian cigarettes.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading It was true the South Seas were calling to him, but he had a feeling that the game was not yet played out in the United States.
