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 Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
absurd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
accounting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
admission
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
attendance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
Church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
considered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
deference
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
DoctornounUS /doctor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
effect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
exchangednounUS /ˈexchanged/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
failed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
Finlay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
Forsyth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
hoped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
invariably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
Jamieson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
justly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
Knox
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
Murchisons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
observed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
occasionally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
occasions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
occupant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
occupying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
permanent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
pews
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
preach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
preached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
pronounced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
pulpit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
regular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
Reverend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
sermon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
sermons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
sternly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
stranger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
suggestion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
thinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
ways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
wishes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
