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 sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
actions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
admirably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
Ambrose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose was spending an extremely unpleasant evening.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose was spending an extremely unpleasant evening.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
Appleford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
Austin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose was spending an extremely unpleasant evening.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
betrayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
Blair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
convinced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
creatures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
dance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
docile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had up to the present found his puppets quite docile and obedient to the pulling of the wires.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose was spending an extremely unpleasant evening.
extremely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose was spending an extremely unpleasant evening.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So far, so well; but still Mr. Austin Ambrose was uncomfortable.
fellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had up to the present found his puppets quite docile and obedient to the pulling of the wires.
fully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
govern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had up to the present found his puppets quite docile and obedient to the pulling of the wires.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
hidden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had up to the present found his puppets quite docile and obedient to the pulling of the wires.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
Lord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
Lottie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
loved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
married
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose was spending an extremely unpleasant evening.
nice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
obedient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had up to the present found his puppets quite docile and obedient to the pulling of the wires.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
piping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
played
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had up to the present found his puppets quite docile and obedient to the pulling of the wires.
pull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
pulling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had up to the present found his puppets quite docile and obedient to the pulling of the wires.
puppet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
puppets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had up to the present found his puppets quite docile and obedient to the pulling of the wires.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
ruined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
secretly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So far, so well; but still Mr. Austin Ambrose was uncomfortable.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
sounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
spendingnounUS /ˈspending/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose was spending an extremely unpleasant evening.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So far, so well; but still Mr. Austin Ambrose was uncomfortable.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had got Lord Blair and Margaret secretly married, he had hidden them away at Appleford; his puppet Lottie had played her part really quite admirably, and Margaret was fully convinced that she had been betrayed and ruined by the man she loved.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
uncomfortable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
unpleasant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose was spending an extremely unpleasant evening.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose had up to the present found his puppets quite docile and obedient to the pulling of the wires.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Austin Ambrose was spending an extremely unpleasant evening.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So far, so well; but still Mr. Austin Ambrose was uncomfortable.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
wire-puller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
wires
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It sounds as if it would be a very nice thing to play with one's fellow creatures as if they were puppets--to pull the wires which govern their actions, and to make them dance to one's piping; but the wire-puller has sometimes a very uncomfortable time of it.
