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 SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
asking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
awkward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But something, he could not tell what, seemed to forbid him.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
companion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
confidencenounUS /ˈconfidence/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading There was something in his presence, in spite of his fascination, that did not inspire confidence.
confidences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In spite of the fact that he had spent a good deal of time with Count Romanoff he had given him no confidences.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But something, he could not tell what, seemed to forbid him.
Count
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In spite of the fact that he had spent a good deal of time with Count Romanoff he had given him no confidences.
deal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In spite of the fact that he had spent a good deal of time with Count Romanoff he had given him no confidences.
Dick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading There was something in his presence, in spite of his fascination, that did not inspire confidence.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In spite of the fact that he had spent a good deal of time with Count Romanoff he had given him no confidences.
fascination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was something in his presence, in spite of his fascination, that did not inspire confidence.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
forbid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But something, he could not tell what, seemed to forbid him.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In spite of the fact that he had spent a good deal of time with Count Romanoff he had given him no confidences.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In spite of the fact that he had spent a good deal of time with Count Romanoff he had given him no confidences.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But something, he could not tell what, seemed to forbid him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In spite of the fact that he had spent a good deal of time with Count Romanoff he had given him no confidences.
inspire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was something in his presence, in spite of his fascination, that did not inspire confidence.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
libertynounUS /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading In spite of the fact that he had spent a good deal of time with Count Romanoff he had given him no confidences.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But something, he could not tell what, seemed to forbid him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In spite of the fact that he had spent a good deal of time with Count Romanoff he had given him no confidences.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was something in his presence, in spite of his fascination, that did not inspire confidence.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
Romanoff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In spite of the fact that he had spent a good deal of time with Count Romanoff he had given him no confidences.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But something, he could not tell what, seemed to forbid him.
SHIPWRECK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But something, he could not tell what, seemed to forbid him.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In spite of the fact that he had spent a good deal of time with Count Romanoff he had given him no confidences.
spite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In spite of the fact that he had spent a good deal of time with Count Romanoff he had given him no confidences.
strongly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
tempted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In spite of the fact that he had spent a good deal of time with Count Romanoff he had given him no confidences.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was something in his presence, in spite of his fascination, that did not inspire confidence.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In spite of the fact that he had spent a good deal of time with Count Romanoff he had given him no confidences.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
ventured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But something, he could not tell what, seemed to forbid him.
wireless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHIPWRECK For a moment Dick was strongly tempted to tell his companion about the wireless he had received.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading In spite of the fact that he had spent a good deal of time with Count Romanoff he had given him no confidences.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "By the way," ventured Dick, after an awkward silence, "I have often been on the point of asking you, but it felt like a liberty.
