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 There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
actually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
affectation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
airing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
boredom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
comparable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
complains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
employment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
entertainment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
February
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
Grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
haunting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
idly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
invalid's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
merely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
pathetic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
quality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
Saturday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
says
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
Schofield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
search
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
speaks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
thaw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
thrice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
troubled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
uncomfortable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when a boy has nothing to do, he has actually nothing at all to do; his state is pathetic, and when he complains of it his voice is haunting.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Schofield was troubled by this uncomfortable quality in the voice of her son, who came to her thrice, in his search for entertainment or even employment, one Saturday afternoon during the February thaw.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When a man says he has nothing to do, he speaks idly; there is always more than he can do.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading There is no boredom (not even an invalid's) comparable to that of a boy who has nothing to do.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grown women never say they have nothing to do, and when girls or little girls say they have nothing to do, they are merely airing an affectation.
