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 “Do you mean,” he asked, “being elected to a fraternity?”
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
asked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you mean,” he asked, “being elected to a fraternity?”
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “Do you mean,” he asked, “being elected to a fraternity?”
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Do you mean,” he asked, “being elected to a fraternity?”
elected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you mean,” he asked, “being elected to a fraternity?”
explain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought perhaps he might help him to explain.
explanation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This explanation was very vague to Quincy.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His neighbor turned upon him with a look of horror in his eyes.
fraternity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you mean,” he asked, “being elected to a fraternity?”
gratuitously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thought perhaps he might help him to explain.
help
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought perhaps he might help him to explain.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He thought perhaps he might help him to explain.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His neighbor turned upon him with a look of horror in his eyes.
horror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His neighbor turned upon him with a look of horror in his eyes.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His neighbor turned upon him with a look of horror in his eyes.
inexplicable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
insult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
look
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His neighbor turned upon him with a look of horror in his eyes.
mean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you mean,” he asked, “being elected to a fraternity?”
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He thought perhaps he might help him to explain.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
neighbor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His neighbor turned upon him with a look of horror in his eyes.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His neighbor turned upon him with a look of horror in his eyes.
pain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought perhaps he might help him to explain.
Quincy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This explanation was very vague to Quincy.
seemed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
speechless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
stranger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
suddenly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed speechless with an inexplicable pain, much as Quincy thought he might be, if some stranger suddenly, gratuitously, should insult his sister.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This explanation was very vague to Quincy.
thought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought perhaps he might help him to explain.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This explanation was very vague to Quincy.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His neighbor turned upon him with a look of horror in his eyes.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading His neighbor turned upon him with a look of horror in his eyes.
vague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This explanation was very vague to Quincy.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This explanation was very vague to Quincy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This explanation was very vague to Quincy.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading His neighbor turned upon him with a look of horror in his eyes.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Do you mean,” he asked, “being elected to a fraternity?”
