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 One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have always to remind myself that something, even if it be far from the best thing, is better than nothing.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
arrive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the only way to arrive at the best way is to make plenty of blunders, and find them out.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Perhaps the only way to arrive at the best way is to make plenty of blunders, and find them out.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have always to remind myself that something, even if it be far from the best thing, is better than nothing.
blunders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the only way to arrive at the best way is to make plenty of blunders, and find them out.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
comes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
discomforts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have always to remind myself that something, even if it be far from the best thing, is better than nothing.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
FIRSTnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading MY FIRST TERROR.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I have always to remind myself that something, even if it be far from the best thing, is better than nothing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have always to remind myself that something, even if it be far from the best thing, is better than nothing.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I have always to remind myself that something, even if it be far from the best thing, is better than nothing.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I have always to remind myself that something, even if it be far from the best thing, is better than nothing.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
main
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps the only way to arrive at the best way is to make plenty of blunders, and find them out.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading MY FIRST TERROR.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I have always to remind myself that something, even if it be far from the best thing, is better than nothing.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the only way to arrive at the best way is to make plenty of blunders, and find them out.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
Perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the only way to arrive at the best way is to make plenty of blunders, and find them out.
plenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the only way to arrive at the best way is to make plenty of blunders, and find them out.
remind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have always to remind myself that something, even if it be far from the best thing, is better than nothing.
satisfy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading I have always to remind myself that something, even if it be far from the best thing, is better than nothing.
spend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
TERROR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MY FIRST TERROR.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I have always to remind myself that something, even if it be far from the best thing, is better than nothing.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Perhaps the only way to arrive at the best way is to make plenty of blunders, and find them out.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
ways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading One of the main discomforts in writing a book is, that there are so many ways in which every thing, as it comes up, might be told, and you can't tell which is the best.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading You believe there must be a _best_ way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,--hadn't even found out the way.
