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 I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading We started to Boston the next afternoon.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
appreciation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
battering-ram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
believed
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From this reading I believed that.
Boston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We started to Boston the next afternoon.
bursting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
compartment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The smoking compartment in the parlour-car was full, and he went into the regular smoker.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
developed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
dulcet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
frankness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The smoking compartment in the parlour-car was full, and he went into the regular smoker.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
hurry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I believed that.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
jackass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
knowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
lamb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
maddening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We started to Boston the next afternoon.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
parlour-car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The smoking compartment in the parlour-car was full, and he went into the regular smoker.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
ram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
regular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The smoking compartment in the parlour-car was full, and he went into the regular smoker.
remarked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
saying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
simplicity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
smoker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The smoking compartment in the parlour-car was full, and he went into the regular smoker.
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The smoking compartment in the parlour-car was full, and he went into the regular smoker.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We started to Boston the next afternoon.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
telephone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I believed that.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We started to Boston the next afternoon.
tonguenounUS /tongue/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We started to Boston the next afternoon.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The smoking compartment in the parlour-car was full, and he went into the regular smoker.
wit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass--in fact, I had it right on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
wittily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remarked--rather wittily, as I thought--that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram--battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite a different thing, and not in use now.
