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 I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
admit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
ale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
beautiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
becoming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
blancmange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
Burgundy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
dessert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
divinity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
excess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
excuses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/
to think that something will happen
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
fellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
follows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
gentlemennounUS /gentlemen/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
grape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
heroic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
hymned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
jolly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
nonsense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He is only by way of becoming a pig.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
pig
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He is only by way of becoming a pig.
poet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
poets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
responsibleadjectiveUS /rɪˈspɑnsəbəl/
having a duty to protect or manage something
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
romantic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
somebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/
a person, without saying who
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
surfeit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I admit that a glass of Burgundy is a more beautiful thing than a blancmange, but I do not think that it follows that a surfeit of one is more heroic than a surfeit of the other.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
trodden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
tucked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
wine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There may be a divinity in the grape which excuses excess, but if so, one would expect it to be there even before the grape had been trodden on by somebody else.
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poets and other gentlemen who have written so much romantic nonsense about "good red wine" and "good brown ale" are responsible for this.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet no poet ever hymned the man who tucked into the dessert, or told him that he was by way of becoming a jolly good fellow.
