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 He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
accidents
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From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
acquaintance
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From this reading I soon took an interest in my new acquaintance.
always
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From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I soon took an interest in my new acquaintance.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
apt
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From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
ashore
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From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
beings
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From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
calling
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From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
cast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
castle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
circumstances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
class
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From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
communicative
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From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
communion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
contrary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
conversation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
cutting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
deal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
entire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
especially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
to show or communicate a feeling or idea
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
favor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
fellow-creatures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
flag
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
frequenting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
grew
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From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I soon took an interest in my new acquaintance.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I soon took an interest in my new acquaintance.
information
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I soon took an interest in my new acquaintance.
interesting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
interests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
mariner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
mighty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I soon took an interest in my new acquaintance.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I soon took an interest in my new acquaintance.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
peculiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
pith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
portion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
quaintly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
shrewd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I soon took an interest in my new acquaintance.
stranger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
stranger's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I soon took an interest in my new acquaintance.
touch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
touching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The conversation, under such circumstances, did not flag; on the contrary, it soon grew more interesting by the stranger’s beginning to touch on his private interests.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was communicative, shrewd, and peculiar; and though apt to express himself quaintly, it was always with the pith of one who had seen a great deal of at least one portion of his fellow-creatures.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that he was a mariner who had been cast ashore by one of the accidents of his calling, and, by way of cutting in a word in his own favor, he gave me to understand that he had seen a great deal, more especially of that castle of his fellow-creatures who like himself live by frequenting the mighty deep.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading “I am very happy,” I said, “to have met with a stranger who can give me information touching an entire class of human beings with whom I have as yet had but little communion.
