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 penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
abstemious
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From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
actually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
appetitenounUS /ˈæpətaɪt/
a desire for food
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
assertion
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From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
authority
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From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
beautiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
belt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
birds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
butterflies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
celebrated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
constructed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
cool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
crusts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
day's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
devoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
draws
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
enjoy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
Fairfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
flowers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
fountain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
grave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
hovering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
keener
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
Leonard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
literature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
munched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
overhead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
penny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
props
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
quotes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
refer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
restingnounUS /ˈresting/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
shoeing-horn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
singing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
sparkling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
Spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
startling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
tight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
tract
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
useful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
walking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A penny tract is the shoeing-horn of literature! it draws on a great many books, and some too tight to be very useful in walking.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
waters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The butterflies were hovering over the belt of flowers which he had placed around his fountain, and the birds were singing overhead.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Spring had come again; and one beautiful May day, Leonard Fairfield sat beside the little fountain which he had now actually constructed in the garden.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
writer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Leonard Fairfield was resting from his day's work, to enjoy his abstemious dinner, beside the cool play of the sparkling waters, and, with the yet keener appetite of knowledge, he devoured his book as he munched his crusts.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The penny tract quotes a celebrated writer--you long to read him; it props a startling assertion by a grave authority--you long to refer to it.
