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 Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
absorbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
accumulate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To save money, to accumulate sufficient capital for his release, was an impossibility, at all events within any reasonable time.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To save money, to accumulate sufficient capital for his release, was an impossibility, at all events within any reasonable time.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading To save money, to accumulate sufficient capital for his release, was an impossibility, at all events within any reasonable time.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To save money, to accumulate sufficient capital for his release, was an impossibility, at all events within any reasonable time.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
assurance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
capital
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To save money, to accumulate sufficient capital for his release, was an impossibility, at all events within any reasonable time.
contented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And for what windfall could he look?
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
events
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To save money, to accumulate sufficient capital for his release, was an impossibility, at all events within any reasonable time.
expedient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
grocer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
hopeful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
imagination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
immediate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
impossibility
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To save money, to accumulate sufficient capital for his release, was an impossibility, at all events within any reasonable time.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And for what windfall could he look?
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To save money, to accumulate sufficient capital for his release, was an impossibility, at all events within any reasonable time.
money-earning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
needs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
occurred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet where was the way out?
press
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
probabilities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
problem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
pursue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
reasonable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To save money, to accumulate sufficient capital for his release, was an impossibility, at all events within any reasonable time.
release
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To save money, to accumulate sufficient capital for his release, was an impossibility, at all events within any reasonable time.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading To save money, to accumulate sufficient capital for his release, was an impossibility, at all events within any reasonable time.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
sufficient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To save money, to accumulate sufficient capital for his release, was an impossibility, at all events within any reasonable time.
temper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
temporary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To save money, to accumulate sufficient capital for his release, was an impossibility, at all events within any reasonable time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
troubled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
ultimate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
vague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet where was the way out?
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And for what windfall could he look?
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Yet where was the way out?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
windfall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And for what windfall could he look?
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Of course he had meant nothing of the kind; his imagination had seen in the shop a temporary expedient; he had not troubled to pursue the ultimate probabilities of the life that lay before him, but contented himself with the vague assurance of his hopeful temper.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading To save money, to accumulate sufficient capital for his release, was an impossibility, at all events within any reasonable time.
worry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he to be a grocer for the rest of his life?--This question, which at first scarcely occurred to him, absorbed as he was in the problem of money-earning for immediate needs, at length began to press and worry.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet where was the way out?
