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 It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It is not the laborers, at their posts from sun to sun, who need our sympathy, after all.
AH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AH!
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not the laborers, at their posts from sun to sun, who need our sympathy, after all.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
banks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning in November, business took Mr. Thornton to one of the banks of the city.
bars
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From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
bread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning in November, business took Mr. Thornton to one of the banks of the city.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is the long line of discouraged men and women who cannot get the work to do, who do what is harder than work—wait.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning in November, business took Mr. Thornton to one of the banks of the city.
discouraged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is the long line of discouraged men and women who cannot get the work to do, who do what is harder than work—wait.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It is the long line of discouraged men and women who cannot get the work to do, who do what is harder than work—wait.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
eagerly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
feeble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It is not the laborers, at their posts from sun to sun, who need our sympathy, after all.
gates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is the long line of discouraged men and women who cannot get the work to do, who do what is harder than work—wait.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
harder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is the long line of discouraged men and women who cannot get the work to do, who do what is harder than work—wait.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One morning in November, business took Mr. Thornton to one of the banks of the city.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
knocking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
laborers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not the laborers, at their posts from sun to sun, who need our sympathy, after all.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is the long line of discouraged men and women who cannot get the work to do, who do what is harder than work—wait.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is the long line of discouraged men and women who cannot get the work to do, who do what is harder than work—wait.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is the long line of discouraged men and women who cannot get the work to do, who do what is harder than work—wait.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One morning in November, business took Mr. Thornton to one of the banks of the city.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning in November, business took Mr. Thornton to one of the banks of the city.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is not the laborers, at their posts from sun to sun, who need our sympathy, after all.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
niche
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It is not the laborers, at their posts from sun to sun, who need our sympathy, after all.
November
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning in November, business took Mr. Thornton to one of the banks of the city.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It is the long line of discouraged men and women who cannot get the work to do, who do what is harder than work—wait.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One morning in November, business took Mr. Thornton to one of the banks of the city.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It is not the laborers, at their posts from sun to sun, who need our sympathy, after all.
perchance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
pitiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
posts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not the laborers, at their posts from sun to sun, who need our sympathy, after all.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not the laborers, at their posts from sun to sun, who need our sympathy, after all.
sympathy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not the laborers, at their posts from sun to sun, who need our sympathy, after all.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It is the long line of discouraged men and women who cannot get the work to do, who do what is harder than work—wait.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It is not the laborers, at their posts from sun to sun, who need our sympathy, after all.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
Thornton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning in November, business took Mr. Thornton to one of the banks of the city.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One morning in November, business took Mr. Thornton to one of the banks of the city.
tugging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
wait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is the long line of discouraged men and women who cannot get the work to do, who do what is harder than work—wait.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It is the long line of discouraged men and women who cannot get the work to do, who do what is harder than work—wait.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It is not the laborers, at their posts from sun to sun, who need our sympathy, after all.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is the long line of discouraged men and women who cannot get the work to do, who do what is harder than work—wait.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is pitiful—a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars, watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche—to work for bread.
