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 The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
advisability
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pondered during many sleepless hours the advisability of having David sign the pledge.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had always refused to do it hitherto.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The young man was not imaginative; an ideal, however high, was a far less real thing to David than to old John.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
arrangement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
breaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
David
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading David had always refused to do it hitherto.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading He pondered during many sleepless hours the advisability of having David sign the pledge.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young man was not imaginative; an ideal, however high, was a far less real thing to David than to old John.
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He pondered during many sleepless hours the advisability of having David sign the pledge.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
hesitate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young man was not imaginative; an ideal, however high, was a far less real thing to David than to old John.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
hitherto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had always refused to do it hitherto.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pondered during many sleepless hours the advisability of having David sign the pledge.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The young man was not imaginative; an ideal, however high, was a far less real thing to David than to old John.
ideal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young man was not imaginative; an ideal, however high, was a far less real thing to David than to old John.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
imaginative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young man was not imaginative; an ideal, however high, was a far less real thing to David than to old John.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading David had always refused to do it hitherto.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
keen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young man was not imaginative; an ideal, however high, was a far less real thing to David than to old John.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young man was not imaginative; an ideal, however high, was a far less real thing to David than to old John.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pondered during many sleepless hours the advisability of having David sign the pledge.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
needed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
obligation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He pondered during many sleepless hours the advisability of having David sign the pledge.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young man was not imaginative; an ideal, however high, was a far less real thing to David than to old John.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
pledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pondered during many sleepless hours the advisability of having David sign the pledge.
pondered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pondered during many sleepless hours the advisability of having David sign the pledge.
press
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
promise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young man was not imaginative; an ideal, however high, was a far less real thing to David than to old John.
refused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David had always refused to do it hitherto.
regarding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
shame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
sign
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pondered during many sleepless hours the advisability of having David sign the pledge.
sleepless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pondered during many sleepless hours the advisability of having David sign the pledge.
somehow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
superstitious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The young man was not imaginative; an ideal, however high, was a far less real thing to David than to old John.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The young man was not imaginative; an ideal, however high, was a far less real thing to David than to old John.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The young man was not imaginative; an ideal, however high, was a far less real thing to David than to old John.
verbal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a keen sense of shame in breaking a verbal promise on this subject; but he had an almost superstitious feeling regarding the obligation of anything he put his name to; and this very feeling made John hesitate to press the matter.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The young man was not imaginative; an ideal, however high, was a far less real thing to David than to old John.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The arrangement had been a very pleasant one, every way, but somehow John did not feel as if David had as much outside help as he needed.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young man was not imaginative; an ideal, however high, was a far less real thing to David than to old John.
