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 She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
accord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
Americans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Americans had set Sunny free.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sunny's mother had signed the contract when starvation faced them, and reassured by the promises of Hirata.
appreciate
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From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
avaricious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
average
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
bond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
bondage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
comes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
contract
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sunny's mother had signed the contract when starvation faced them, and reassured by the promises of Hirata.
covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
extracted
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From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sunny's mother had signed the contract when starvation faced them, and reassured by the promises of Hirata.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading The Americans had set Sunny free.
freedom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
geisha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Americans had set Sunny free.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
Hirata
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
immaterial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
iniquitous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
Japan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
law
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
legal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sunny's mother had signed the contract when starvation faced them, and reassured by the promises of Hirata.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
Only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
precautionsplural nounUS /prɪˈkɔʃənz/
actions taken to prevent danger
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
price
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
proceeding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
promises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sunny's mother had signed the contract when starvation faced them, and reassured by the promises of Hirata.
reassuredverbUS /ˌriːəˈʃʊrd/
made less worried or afraid
From this reading Sunny's mother had signed the contract when starvation faced them, and reassured by the promises of Hirata.
requirements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Americans had set Sunny free.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
signed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sunny's mother had signed the contract when starvation faced them, and reassured by the promises of Hirata.
sold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
starvation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sunny's mother had signed the contract when starvation faced them, and reassured by the promises of Hirata.
strict
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
Sunny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Americans had set Sunny free.
Sunny's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sunny's mother had signed the contract when starvation faced them, and reassured by the promises of Hirata.
terms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Americans had set Sunny free.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Sunny's mother had signed the contract when starvation faced them, and reassured by the promises of Hirata.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
thrill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What price and terms the avaricious Hirata extracted from the Americans is immaterial, but they took precautions that the proceeding should be in strict accord with the legal requirements of Japan.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Sunny's mother had signed the contract when starvation faced them, and reassured by the promises of Hirata.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Only one who has been in bondage all of his days can appreciate that thrill that comes with sudden freedom.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
youth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been bound by law to the man Hirata through an iniquitous bond that covered all the days of her young life--a bond into which the average geisha is sold in her youth.
