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 father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
a-year
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From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
abilities
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
all
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PAPA AND MAMMA.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
belongs
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From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
business
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Yet this good man was not entirely circumscribed by his “office.”
character
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
circumscribed
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From this reading Yet this good man was not entirely circumscribed by his “office.”
class
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
clerk
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From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
commerce
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
common
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
country
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From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
down
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
duties
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Yet this good man was not entirely circumscribed by his “office.”
family
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From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
father
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From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
fifty
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
general
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
given
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet this good man was not entirely circumscribed by his “office.”
grand
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
healthfulness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
holding
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
hundred
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From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
importance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
law
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
laying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
London
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
MAMMA
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From this reading PAPA AND MAMMA.
man
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
marching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
marvellous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
merchant's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
moderate
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
native
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Yet this good man was not entirely circumscribed by his “office.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
opinion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
PAPA
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From this reading PAPA AND MAMMA.
particular
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
perfect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
pounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
pretension
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
respect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
routine
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From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
said
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From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
salary
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From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
spring
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From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
steadily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
type
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
undertakings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
unimpeachable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He had that native spring of life and healthfulness in him which belongs to those who have been born in, and never have forgotten, the country.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The father of this family, as we have already said, was a clerk in a merchant’s office, with a salary of two hundred pounds a-year.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He was a man of fifty, with very moderate abilities, but character unimpeachable--a perfect type of his class--steadily marching on in his common routine--doing all his duties without pretension--somewhat given to laying down the law in respect to business--and holding a very grand opinion of the importance of commerce in general, and of the marvellous undertakings of London in particular.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet this good man was not entirely circumscribed by his “office.”
