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 They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Among them came Samuel Percy, a Royalist, transported for some offense against the government and condemned to servitude for five years.
AmongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Among them came Samuel Percy, a Royalist, transported for some offense against the government and condemned to servitude for five years.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Some said he was a blacksmith, some a tailor, and others a common field laborer, or at best an overseer of the negroes.
ancestry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Some said he was a blacksmith, some a tailor, and others a common field laborer, or at best an overseer of the negroes.
backward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some said he was a blacksmith, some a tailor, and others a common field laborer, or at best an overseer of the negroes.
blacksmith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some said he was a blacksmith, some a tailor, and others a common field laborer, or at best an overseer of the negroes.
bondman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he was a bondman was sure and he worked out his time and then, unbroken in spirit, resolved to make for himself a name and a fortune and a family.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among them came Samuel Percy, a Royalist, transported for some offense against the government and condemned to servitude for five years.
certainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just what he did during the five years was not certainly known.
common
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some said he was a blacksmith, some a tailor, and others a common field laborer, or at best an overseer of the negroes.
condemned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among them came Samuel Percy, a Royalist, transported for some offense against the government and condemned to servitude for five years.
Cromwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Just what he did during the five years was not certainly known.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Just what he did during the five years was not certainly known.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
field
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some said he was a blacksmith, some a tailor, and others a common field laborer, or at best an overseer of the negroes.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among them came Samuel Percy, a Royalist, transported for some offense against the government and condemned to servitude for five years.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
fortunenounUS /ˈfortune/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That he was a bondman was sure and he worked out his time and then, unbroken in spirit, resolved to make for himself a name and a fortune and a family.
government
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among them came Samuel Percy, a Royalist, transported for some offense against the government and condemned to servitude for five years.
Hansford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Just what he did during the five years was not certainly known.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading That he was a bondman was sure and he worked out his time and then, unbroken in spirit, resolved to make for himself a name and a fortune and a family.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading That he was a bondman was sure and he worked out his time and then, unbroken in spirit, resolved to make for himself a name and a fortune and a family.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That he was a bondman was sure and he worked out his time and then, unbroken in spirit, resolved to make for himself a name and a fortune and a family.
Just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just what he did during the five years was not certainly known.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just what he did during the five years was not certainly known.
laborer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some said he was a blacksmith, some a tailor, and others a common field laborer, or at best an overseer of the negroes.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That he was a bondman was sure and he worked out his time and then, unbroken in spirit, resolved to make for himself a name and a fortune and a family.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That he was a bondman was sure and he worked out his time and then, unbroken in spirit, resolved to make for himself a name and a fortune and a family.
negroes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some said he was a blacksmith, some a tailor, and others a common field laborer, or at best an overseer of the negroes.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Just what he did during the five years was not certainly known.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
offense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among them came Samuel Percy, a Royalist, transported for some offense against the government and condemned to servitude for five years.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some said he was a blacksmith, some a tailor, and others a common field laborer, or at best an overseer of the negroes.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he was a bondman was sure and he worked out his time and then, unbroken in spirit, resolved to make for himself a name and a fortune and a family.
overseer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some said he was a blacksmith, some a tailor, and others a common field laborer, or at best an overseer of the negroes.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
Percy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among them came Samuel Percy, a Royalist, transported for some offense against the government and condemned to servitude for five years.
period
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
resolved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he was a bondman was sure and he worked out his time and then, unbroken in spirit, resolved to make for himself a name and a fortune and a family.
Royalist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among them came Samuel Percy, a Royalist, transported for some offense against the government and condemned to servitude for five years.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some said he was a blacksmith, some a tailor, and others a common field laborer, or at best an overseer of the negroes.
Samuel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among them came Samuel Percy, a Royalist, transported for some offense against the government and condemned to servitude for five years.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
servitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among them came Samuel Percy, a Royalist, transported for some offense against the government and condemned to servitude for five years.
shorter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
slaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
sold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among them came Samuel Percy, a Royalist, transported for some offense against the government and condemned to servitude for five years.
spirit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he was a bondman was sure and he worked out his time and then, unbroken in spirit, resolved to make for himself a name and a fortune and a family.
stretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That he was a bondman was sure and he worked out his time and then, unbroken in spirit, resolved to make for himself a name and a fortune and a family.
tailor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some said he was a blacksmith, some a tailor, and others a common field laborer, or at best an overseer of the negroes.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Among them came Samuel Percy, a Royalist, transported for some offense against the government and condemned to servitude for five years.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he was a bondman was sure and he worked out his time and then, unbroken in spirit, resolved to make for himself a name and a fortune and a family.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That he was a bondman was sure and he worked out his time and then, unbroken in spirit, resolved to make for himself a name and a fortune and a family.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
touched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
transported
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among them came Samuel Percy, a Royalist, transported for some offense against the government and condemned to servitude for five years.
unbroken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he was a bondman was sure and he worked out his time and then, unbroken in spirit, resolved to make for himself a name and a fortune and a family.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
Virginia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
Virginian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Just what he did during the five years was not certainly known.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Just what he did during the five years was not certainly known.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he was a bondman was sure and he worked out his time and then, unbroken in spirit, resolved to make for himself a name and a fortune and a family.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were a very old Virginian family whose line of ancestry stretched backward quite as far as that of Miss Hansford, and touched the days of Cromwell, when white people were sent to Virginia and sold as slaves for a longer or shorter period of years.