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 a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
absent
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From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
aged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
chatty
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From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
coming
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From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
conversation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
correspondence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
crazy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The planters whispered us not to mind him--crazy.
face
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From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
fancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
gave
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From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
gentlemennounUS /gentlemen/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
glanced
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From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
good-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
Greeley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
health
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The planters whispered us not to mind him--crazy.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
horses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
humor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
interruptednounUS /ˈinterrupted/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
Islands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
lapsed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
listen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
meditations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
Michigan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The planters whispered us not to mind him--crazy.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The planters whispered us not to mind him--crazy.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
ourselvespronounUS /aʊərˈselvz/
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
plantations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
planters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The planters whispered us not to mind him--crazy.
preacher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
presently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
refresh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
stoppednounUS /stopped/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
triflenounUS /ˈtraɪfəl/
something that needs very little effort
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
whispered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The planters whispered us not to mind him--crazy.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
woke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
