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 "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You might almost think they had a soul.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Cats and Nonconformists seem to me the only things in this world possessed of a practicable working conscience.
animals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
anxious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
cat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
Cats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
chance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
consciencenounUS /ˈkɑːnʃəns/
the inner sense of right and wrong
From this reading Cats and Nonconformists seem to me the only things in this world possessed of a practicable working conscience.
detected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
discussing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
entertain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
gives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading You might almost think they had a soul.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
houseboat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Only this morning I was watching that tortoise-shell of yours on the houseboat.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
Jephson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
mean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading You might almost think they had a soul.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Only this morning I was watching that tortoise-shell of yours on the houseboat.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
Nonconformists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cats and Nonconformists seem to me the only things in this world possessed of a practicable working conscience.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
notice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
novel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Only this morning I was watching that tortoise-shell of yours on the houseboat.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cats and Nonconformists seem to me the only things in this world possessed of a practicable working conscience.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
plot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
possessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cats and Nonconformists seem to me the only things in this world possessed of a practicable working conscience.
practicable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cats and Nonconformists seem to me the only things in this world possessed of a practicable working conscience.
pretend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
prompt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
punt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
remarked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
respect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cats and Nonconformists seem to me the only things in this world possessed of a practicable working conscience.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
soul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You might almost think they had a soul.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading You might almost think they had a soul.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cats and Nonconformists seem to me the only things in this world possessed of a practicable working conscience.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You might almost think they had a soul.
thinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Cats and Nonconformists seem to me the only things in this world possessed of a practicable working conscience.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
tortoise-shell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Only this morning I was watching that tortoise-shell of yours on the houseboat.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
Watch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Only this morning I was watching that tortoise-shell of yours on the houseboat.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Cats," remarked Jephson to me, one afternoon, as we sat in the punt discussing the plot of our novel, "cats are animals for whom I entertain a very great respect.
working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cats and Nonconformists seem to me the only things in this world possessed of a practicable working conscience.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cats and Nonconformists seem to me the only things in this world possessed of a practicable working conscience.
wrong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Watch a cat doing something mean and wrong--if ever one gives you the chance; notice how anxious she is that nobody should see her doing it; and how prompt, if detected, to pretend that she was not doing it--that she was not even thinking of doing it--that, as a matter of fact, she was just about to do something else, quite different.
yourspronounUS /jʊrz/
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading "Only this morning I was watching that tortoise-shell of yours on the houseboat.
