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 Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
addressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading “You say truly,” replied the other; “I am a stranger, and have been a wanderer, sorely against my will.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “You say truly,” replied the other; “I am a stranger, and have been a wanderer, sorely against my will.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “You say truly,” replied the other; “I am a stranger, and have been a wanderer, sorely against my will.
church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hath raised a great scandal, I promise you, in godly Master Dimmesdale’s church.”
companion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
courteous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
curiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
Dimmesdale's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hath raised a great scandal, I promise you, in godly Master Dimmesdale’s church.”
doings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
evil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
formal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
godly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hath raised a great scandal, I promise you, in godly Master Dimmesdale’s church.”
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She hath raised a great scandal, I promise you, in godly Master Dimmesdale’s church.”
hathauxiliary verbUS /hæθ/
an old form of “has”
From this reading She hath raised a great scandal, I promise you, in godly Master Dimmesdale’s church.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
Hester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
Master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hath raised a great scandal, I promise you, in godly Master Dimmesdale’s church.”
Mistress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “You say truly,” replied the other; “I am a stranger, and have been a wanderer, sorely against my will.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
needs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You say truly,” replied the other; “I am a stranger, and have been a wanderer, sorely against my will.
pray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
promise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hath raised a great scandal, I promise you, in godly Master Dimmesdale’s church.”
Prynne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
public
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
questioner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
raised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hath raised a great scandal, I promise you, in godly Master Dimmesdale’s church.”
region
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
repliednounUS /replied/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “You say truly,” replied the other; “I am a stranger, and have been a wanderer, sorely against my will.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
savage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You say truly,” replied the other; “I am a stranger, and have been a wanderer, sorely against my will.
scandal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hath raised a great scandal, I promise you, in godly Master Dimmesdale’s church.”
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
shame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
shoulder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
sorely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You say truly,” replied the other; “I am a stranger, and have been a wanderer, sorely against my will.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
stranger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
surely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
touchingadjectiveUS /ˈtʌtʃɪŋ/
arousing affect
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
townsman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
truly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You say truly,” replied the other; “I am a stranger, and have been a wanderer, sorely against my will.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
wanderer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You say truly,” replied the other; “I am a stranger, and have been a wanderer, sorely against my will.
whereforeadverbUS /werˈfɔːr/
an old word meaning “why” or “for that reason”
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Then touching the shoulder of a townsman who stood near to him, he addressed him in a formal and courteous manner:
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “You say truly,” replied the other; “I am a stranger, and have been a wanderer, sorely against my will.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend,” answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, “else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I pray you, good Sir,” said he, “who is this woman?—and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?”
