Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
according
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But on arriving at the prison he met with an honour even greater.
arriving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on arriving at the prison he met with an honour even greater.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
assigned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But on arriving at the prison he met with an honour even greater.
auspicious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
bad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
Baerle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
Barneveldt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
book-chest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But on arriving at the prison he met with an honour even greater.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
cage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
castle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
chance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
character
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
clemency
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
confined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
Cornelius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
device
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
easily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
escape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But on arriving at the prison he met with an honour even greater.
examine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
famous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
flown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
forgot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
formerly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
greater
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on arriving at the prison he met with an honour even greater.
Grotius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But on arriving at the prison he met with an honour even greater.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
honour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
ideas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
illustrious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
inhabited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
jailer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
jailers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on arriving at the prison he met with an honour even greater.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
omen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But on arriving at the prison he met with an honour even greater.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
Orange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
pigeon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
Prince
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
prison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On the other hand, it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious omen that this very cell was assigned to him, for according to his ideas, a jailer ought never to have given to a second pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
tulip-fancier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
vacant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
van
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the time when Grotius, by means of the device of his wife, made escape from it in that famous book-chest which the jailers forgot to examine.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But on arriving at the prison he met with an honour even greater.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading As chance would have it, the cell formerly inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be vacant, when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the tulip-fancier Van Baerle there.
