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 They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
afford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot afford to lose them."
afraid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are poor men, and nearly all our merchandise has been given for these slaves.
allow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We are poor men, and nearly all our merchandise has been given for these slaves.
belong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
bondage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "You will not lose the value of them," rejoined the old man, "by taking them to Swearah.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot afford to lose them."
carry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
deceived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
dominions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
emperor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
English
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We are poor men, and nearly all our merchandise has been given for these slaves.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are poor men, and nearly all our merchandise has been given for these slaves.
Government
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We are poor men, and nearly all our merchandise has been given for these slaves.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
lose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We cannot afford to lose them."
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You will not lose the value of them," rejoined the old man, "by taking them to Swearah.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are poor men, and nearly all our merchandise has been given for these slaves.
merchandise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are poor men, and nearly all our merchandise has been given for these slaves.
merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
merchants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are poor men, and nearly all our merchandise has been given for these slaves.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "You will not lose the value of them," rejoined the old man, "by taking them to Swearah.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You will not lose the value of them," rejoined the old man, "by taking them to Swearah.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We are poor men, and nearly all our merchandise has been given for these slaves.
receiving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
redeem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
rejoinednounUS /ˈrejoined/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "You will not lose the value of them," rejoined the old man, "by taking them to Swearah.
remain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
slaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are poor men, and nearly all our merchandise has been given for these slaves.
subjects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
Swearah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You will not lose the value of them," rejoined the old man, "by taking them to Swearah.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You will not lose the value of them," rejoined the old man, "by taking them to Swearah.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading We are poor men, and nearly all our merchandise has been given for these slaves.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
value
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You will not lose the value of them," rejoined the old man, "by taking them to Swearah.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "You will not lose the value of them," rejoined the old man, "by taking them to Swearah.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "We think that they have deceived us," answered one of the merchants, "and we are afraid to carry them within the emperor's dominions, where they might be taken from us without our receiving anything.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They belong to a country the Government of which will not allow its subjects to remain in bondage; and there is not an English merchant in Swearah that would not redeem them.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You will not lose the value of them," rejoined the old man, "by taking them to Swearah.
