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 --After which follows a Courting Scene.
abode
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From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading --After which follows a Courting Scene.
age
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From this reading The age, indeed, was one of licentiousness and profligacy.
always
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From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
aristocratic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
attempted
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From this reading In our chapter headed “The Wake of a Murderer” we have attempted to give a picture of it.
awful
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From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
chapter
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From this reading In our chapter headed “The Wake of a Murderer” we have attempted to give a picture of it.
Charles
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From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
contemplate
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From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
contempt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
court
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From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
Courting
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From this reading --After which follows a Courting Scene.
crewnounUS /crew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
derision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
desolation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
destroyer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
example
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From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
excluded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
favor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
follows
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From this reading --After which follows a Courting Scene.
give
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From this reading In our chapter headed “The Wake of a Murderer” we have attempted to give a picture of it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In our chapter headed “The Wake of a Murderer” we have attempted to give a picture of it.
headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In our chapter headed “The Wake of a Murderer” we have attempted to give a picture of it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
honor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
humble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
imitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In our chapter headed “The Wake of a Murderer” we have attempted to give a picture of it.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The age, indeed, was one of licentiousness and profligacy.
infamous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
iniquitous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
innocence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
introduced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In our chapter headed “The Wake of a Murderer” we have attempted to give a picture of it.
licentiousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The age, indeed, was one of licentiousness and profligacy.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
monarch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
morality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
Murderer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In our chapter headed “The Wake of a Murderer” we have attempted to give a picture of it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The age, indeed, was one of licentiousness and profligacy.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading In our chapter headed “The Wake of a Murderer” we have attempted to give a picture of it.
passport
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
peace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
picture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In our chapter headed “The Wake of a Murderer” we have attempted to give a picture of it.
profligacy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The age, indeed, was one of licentiousness and profligacy.
profligate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
recommend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
reigning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
Scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --After which follows a Courting Scene.
Second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
sorrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
spirit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
subjects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
surrounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The deep sorrow and desolation of spirit introduced by the profligate destroyer into the humble abode of peace and innocence is an awful thing to contemplate.
vices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
virtuenounUS /ˈvɝː.tʃuː/
Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
Wake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In our chapter headed “The Wake of a Murderer” we have attempted to give a picture of it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The age, indeed, was one of licentiousness and profligacy.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading In our chapter headed “The Wake of a Murderer” we have attempted to give a picture of it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading --After which follows a Courting Scene.
whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The reigning monarch, Charles the Second, of infamous memory, had set the iniquitous example to his subjects, and surrounded his court by an aristocratic crew, who had scarcely anything to recommend them but their imitation of his vices, and this was always a passport to his favor, whilst virtue, morality, and honor were excluded with contempt and derision.
