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 We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
bad
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From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
become
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
crime
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From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
criminals
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From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
day
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From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
decided
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From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
desperately
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From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
discussed
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From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
earth
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From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
folks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
get
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From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
literature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
MacShaughnassy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
musingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
nervous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
novel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
Once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
positively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
possibility
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
reflection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
reform
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
remarked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
sad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
sin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
terribly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
uninteresting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
villain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
