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 [Picture: Tom at the old dame’s house] A MILE off, and a thousand feet down.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
Angels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading [Picture: Tom at the old dame’s house] A MILE off, and a thousand feet down.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
base
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
beasts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
blessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
care
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
chucked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
compassion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
creatures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
dale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
dame's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: Tom at the old dame’s house] A MILE off, and a thousand feet down.
dothauxiliary verbUS /dɔːθ/
an old form of “does”
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: Tom at the old dame’s house] A MILE off, and a thousand feet down.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
embrace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
evils
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
exceeding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: Tom at the old dame’s house] A MILE off, and a thousand feet down.
foe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
God
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
grace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
heaven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
heavenly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
Highest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: Tom at the old dame’s house] A MILE off, and a thousand feet down.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
loves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
mercy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
MILE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: Tom at the old dame’s house] A MILE off, and a thousand feet down.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
move
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: Tom at the old dame’s house] A MILE off, and a thousand feet down.
oh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: Tom at the old dame’s house] A MILE off, and a thousand feet down.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
pebble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
petticoat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
Picture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: Tom at the old dame’s house] A MILE off, and a thousand feet down.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
rocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
sends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
serve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
SPENSER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENSER.
spirits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: Tom at the old dame’s house] A MILE off, and a thousand feet down.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “And is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base That may compassion of their evils move?
Tom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: Tom at the old dame’s house] A MILE off, and a thousand feet down.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
weeding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
wicked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Tom found it; though it seemed as if he could have chucked a pebble on to the back of the woman in the red petticoat who was weeding in the garden, or even across the dale to the rocks beyond.
works
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
wretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is:—else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts: But oh! the exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves His creatures so, And all His works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels He sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!”
