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 (Within the limits of the criminal law, of course, but why be a criminal if you have enough to live upon?
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Stephen Aikenhead was entirely right about that.
affairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
Aikenhead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen Aikenhead was entirely right about that.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
banks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading (Within the limits of the criminal law, of course, but why be a criminal if you have enough to live upon?
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
beneficent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
breweries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading (Within the limits of the criminal law, of course, but why be a criminal if you have enough to live upon?
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
condition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
confers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading (Within the limits of the criminal law, of course, but why be a criminal if you have enough to live upon?
criminal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (Within the limits of the criminal law, of course, but why be a criminal if you have enough to live upon?
dividends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
docks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Stephen Aikenhead was entirely right about that.
ENVELOPES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
excuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
exercised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
flout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
forerunner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading (Within the limits of the criminal law, of course, but why be a criminal if you have enough to live upon?
ImaginenounUS /ˈimagine/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
independence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
irregularity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
lack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
law
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (Within the limits of the criminal law, of course, but why be a criminal if you have enough to live upon?
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
limits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (Within the limits of the criminal law, of course, but why be a criminal if you have enough to live upon?
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
MAUVE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
please
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
railways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
refuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Stephen Aikenhead was entirely right about that.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
Stephen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen Aikenhead was entirely right about that.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Stephen Aikenhead was entirely right about that.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
Thrift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Stephen Aikenhead was entirely right about that.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (Within the limits of the criminal law, of course, but why be a criminal if you have enough to live upon?
WithinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading (Within the limits of the criminal law, of course, but why be a criminal if you have enough to live upon?
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Thrift, exercised by yourself or by some beneficent forerunner, confers independence; you can live upon the world, and yet flout it.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You lack the one really good excuse.) Imagine the state of affairs if it were not so--if banks, railways, docks, and breweries could refuse you your dividends on the ground of irregularity in your private life!
yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading MAUVE ENVELOPES The first condition of being able to please yourself is to have enough to live upon.
