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 It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
alternatives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true that even these alternatives would not amuse him very much--he would fall back upon them as things of habit.
amuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For that matter everything was an _ennui_, and Vandover began to long for some new pleasure, some violent untried excitement.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For that matter everything was an _ennui_, and Vandover began to long for some new pleasure, some violent untried excitement.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was true that even these alternatives would not amuse him very much--he would fall back upon them as things of habit.
associate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true that even these alternatives would not amuse him very much--he would fall back upon them as things of habit.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For that matter everything was an _ennui_, and Vandover began to long for some new pleasure, some violent untried excitement.
begun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
betting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
block
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
champagne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
companion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
dinners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
dollars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
Dummy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
Ellis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
ennui
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that matter everything was an _ennui_, and Vandover began to long for some new pleasure, some violent untried excitement.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was true that even these alternatives would not amuse him very much--he would fall back upon them as things of habit.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading For that matter everything was an _ennui_, and Vandover began to long for some new pleasure, some violent untried excitement.
exactly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
excitement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that matter everything was an _ennui_, and Vandover began to long for some new pleasure, some violent untried excitement.
fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true that even these alternatives would not amuse him very much--he would fall back upon them as things of habit.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
Flossie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For that matter everything was an _ennui_, and Vandover began to long for some new pleasure, some violent untried excitement.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
Geary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
habit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true that even these alternatives would not amuse him very much--he would fall back upon them as things of habit.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
Haight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For that matter everything was an _ennui_, and Vandover began to long for some new pleasure, some violent untried excitement.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that matter everything was an _ennui_, and Vandover began to long for some new pleasure, some violent untried excitement.
Mission
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that matter everything was an _ennui_, and Vandover began to long for some new pleasure, some violent untried excitement.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was true that even these alternatives would not amuse him very much--he would fall back upon them as things of habit.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
pleasure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that matter everything was an _ennui_, and Vandover began to long for some new pleasure, some violent untried excitement.
races
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
Ravis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
sale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that matter everything was an _ennui_, and Vandover began to long for some new pleasure, some violent untried excitement.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
somewhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
spend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was true that even these alternatives would not amuse him very much--he would fall back upon them as things of habit.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It was true that even these alternatives would not amuse him very much--he would fall back upon them as things of habit.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true that even these alternatives would not amuse him very much--he would fall back upon them as things of habit.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true that even these alternatives would not amuse him very much--he would fall back upon them as things of habit.
Turner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
untried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that matter everything was an _ennui_, and Vandover began to long for some new pleasure, some violent untried excitement.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was true that even these alternatives would not amuse him very much--he would fall back upon them as things of habit.
Vandover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For that matter everything was an _ennui_, and Vandover began to long for some new pleasure, some violent untried excitement.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true that even these alternatives would not amuse him very much--he would fall back upon them as things of habit.
violentnounUS /ˈviolent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For that matter everything was an _ennui_, and Vandover began to long for some new pleasure, some violent untried excitement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was true that even these alternatives would not amuse him very much--he would fall back upon them as things of habit.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should he spend his five hundred dollars on something that could no longer amuse him?
wiser
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be much wiser to spend it all in having a good time somewhere--champagne dinners with Flossie, or betting on the races--he did not know exactly what.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the sale of the block in the Mission he had seen but little of Geary; young Haight had not been his companion since the time when Turner Ravis had broken with him, but little by little he had begun to associate with Ellis and his friend the Dummy.
