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 "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
active
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the contrary, he was as stirring and active a governor as Massachusetts ever had.
administration
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
begun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
Boston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
contrary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the contrary, he was as stirring and active a governor as Massachusetts ever had.
currency
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
England
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
equalled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Sir William Phips hardly equalled him.
EvennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even Sir William Phips hardly equalled him.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the contrary, he was as stirring and active a governor as Massachusetts ever had.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
governor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
Grandfather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Sir William Phips hardly equalled him.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Even Sir William Phips hardly equalled him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
law
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
law-books
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
lawyer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
Massachusetts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the contrary, he was as stirring and active a governor as Massachusetts ever had.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the contrary, he was as stirring and active a governor as Massachusetts ever had.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
Phips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Sir William Phips hardly equalled him.
practise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
regulate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
Shirley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Sir William Phips hardly equalled him.
sit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
stirring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the contrary, he was as stirring and active a governor as Massachusetts ever had.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the contrary, he was as stirring and active a governor as Massachusetts ever had.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "William Shirley," said Grandfather, "had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair, reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
