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 There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
activity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the summer the packing houses were in full activity again, and Jurgis made more money.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the summer the packing houses were in full activity again, and Jurgis made more money.
all
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From this reading Sooner or later, by this plan, they would have all the floating labor of Chicago trained to do their work.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading During the summer the packing houses were in full activity again, and Jurgis made more money.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He did not make so much, however, as he had the previous summer, for the packers took on more hands.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Sooner or later, by this plan, they would have all the floating labor of Chicago trained to do their work.
Chicago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sooner or later, by this plan, they would have all the floating labor of Chicago trained to do their work.
cunning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And how very cunning a trick was that!
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not make so much, however, as he had the previous summer, for the packers took on more hands.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Sooner or later, by this plan, they would have all the floating labor of Chicago trained to do their work.
DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the summer the packing houses were in full activity again, and Jurgis made more money.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
floating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sooner or later, by this plan, they would have all the floating labor of Chicago trained to do their work.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He did not make so much, however, as he had the previous summer, for the packers took on more hands.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the summer the packing houses were in full activity again, and Jurgis made more money.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He did not make so much, however, as he had the previous summer, for the packers took on more hands.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading He did not make so much, however, as he had the previous summer, for the packers took on more hands.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not make so much, however, as he had the previous summer, for the packers took on more hands.
houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the summer the packing houses were in full activity again, and Jurgis made more money.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And how very cunning a trick was that!
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He did not make so much, however, as he had the previous summer, for the packers took on more hands.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading During the summer the packing houses were in full activity again, and Jurgis made more money.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
Jurgis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the summer the packing houses were in full activity again, and Jurgis made more money.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
labor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sooner or later, by this plan, they would have all the floating labor of Chicago trained to do their work.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sooner or later, by this plan, they would have all the floating labor of Chicago trained to do their work.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the summer the packing houses were in full activity again, and Jurgis made more money.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He did not make so much, however, as he had the previous summer, for the packers took on more hands.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the summer the packing houses were in full activity again, and Jurgis made more money.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the summer the packing houses were in full activity again, and Jurgis made more money.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not make so much, however, as he had the previous summer, for the packers took on more hands.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not make so much, however, as he had the previous summer, for the packers took on more hands.
number
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sooner or later, by this plan, they would have all the floating labor of Chicago trained to do their work.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He did not make so much, however, as he had the previous summer, for the packers took on more hands.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Sooner or later, by this plan, they would have all the floating labor of Chicago trained to do their work.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
packers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not make so much, however, as he had the previous summer, for the packers took on more hands.
packing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the summer the packing houses were in full activity again, and Jurgis made more money.
plan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sooner or later, by this plan, they would have all the floating labor of Chicago trained to do their work.
previous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not make so much, however, as he had the previous summer, for the packers took on more hands.
regular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
season
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
slack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He did not make so much, however, as he had the previous summer, for the packers took on more hands.
Sooner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sooner or later, by this plan, they would have all the floating labor of Chicago trained to do their work.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the summer the packing houses were in full activity again, and Jurgis made more money.
system
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading During the summer the packing houses were in full activity again, and Jurgis made more money.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Sooner or later, by this plan, they would have all the floating labor of Chicago trained to do their work.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He did not make so much, however, as he had the previous summer, for the packers took on more hands.
trained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sooner or later, by this plan, they would have all the floating labor of Chicago trained to do their work.
trick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And how very cunning a trick was that!
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And how very cunning a trick was that!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading During the summer the packing houses were in full activity again, and Jurgis made more money.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sooner or later, by this plan, they would have all the floating labor of Chicago trained to do their work.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There were new men every week, it seemed—it was a regular system; and this number they would keep over to the next slack season, so that every one would have less than ever.
