Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A Japanese fan is but a Japanese fan, whether it hang on the wall of a Canadian drawing-room or the matting of an Indian bungalow.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We have instead been prating of drawing-rooms and mere interiors of houses, which to-day are the same all the world over.
arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We have instead been prating of drawing-rooms and mere interiors of houses, which to-day are the same all the world over.
bien
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From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
bungalow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Japanese fan is but a Japanese fan, whether it hang on the wall of a Canadian drawing-room or the matting of an Indian bungalow.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A Japanese fan is but a Japanese fan, whether it hang on the wall of a Canadian drawing-room or the matting of an Indian bungalow.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance.
Canadian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Japanese fan is but a Japanese fan, whether it hang on the wall of a Canadian drawing-room or the matting of an Indian bungalow.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
color
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
deep-laid
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From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Japanese fan is but a Japanese fan, whether it hang on the wall of a Canadian drawing-room or the matting of an Indian bungalow.
drawing-rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have instead been prating of drawing-rooms and mere interiors of houses, which to-day are the same all the world over.
entendu
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From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
fan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Japanese fan is but a Japanese fan, whether it hang on the wall of a Canadian drawing-room or the matting of an Indian bungalow.
feared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
figure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance.
FLY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
grain
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From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
hang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Japanese fan is but a Japanese fan, whether it hang on the wall of a Canadian drawing-room or the matting of an Indian bungalow.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
hints
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From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have instead been prating of drawing-rooms and mere interiors of houses, which to-day are the same all the world over.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
Indian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Japanese fan is but a Japanese fan, whether it hang on the wall of a Canadian drawing-room or the matting of an Indian bungalow.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have instead been prating of drawing-rooms and mere interiors of houses, which to-day are the same all the world over.
interiors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have instead been prating of drawing-rooms and mere interiors of houses, which to-day are the same all the world over.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
jail-birds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
Japanese
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Japanese fan is but a Japanese fan, whether it hang on the wall of a Canadian drawing-room or the matting of an Indian bungalow.
lack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
lamentable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
local
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
matting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Japanese fan is but a Japanese fan, whether it hang on the wall of a Canadian drawing-room or the matting of an Indian bungalow.
mentioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have instead been prating of drawing-rooms and mere interiors of houses, which to-day are the same all the world over.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance.
narrative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
needs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance.
Nevski
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A Japanese fan is but a Japanese fan, whether it hang on the wall of a Canadian drawing-room or the matting of an Indian bungalow.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading We have instead been prating of drawing-rooms and mere interiors of houses, which to-day are the same all the world over.
Petersburg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
plots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
prating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have instead been prating of drawing-rooms and mere interiors of houses, which to-day are the same all the world over.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
prison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
Prospekt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance.
romance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance.
romantic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
Russian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance.
safely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
salt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We have instead been prating of drawing-rooms and mere interiors of houses, which to-day are the same all the world over.
SPIDER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance.
tales
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the present narrative.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have instead been prating of drawing-rooms and mere interiors of houses, which to-day are the same all the world over.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Japanese fan is but a Japanese fan, whether it hang on the wall of a Canadian drawing-room or the matting of an Indian bungalow.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading A Japanese fan is but a Japanese fan, whether it hang on the wall of a Canadian drawing-room or the matting of an Indian bungalow.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison, nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the usual grain.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have instead been prating of drawing-rooms and mere interiors of houses, which to-day are the same all the world over.
